A new mum discovered she had breast cancer after struggling with breastfeeding her son on one side, which turned out to be the result of a tumour.
When UK mum Joanne Carr began breastfeeding her son Dougie, she was pleasantly surprised by how easily he took to it. After fourteen months, however, she noticed that he was beginning to have a few issues when it came to feeding from her right side and decided to investigate further.
An Unexpected Discovery
Dougie’s difficulty with feeding from her right breast sounded alarm bells for Joanne. “He fed on the other one fine,” she told Yahoo UK. “I thought I might have a blocked duct or something. It was very strange.”
After self-examining her breasts, Joanne was shocked to discover a lump on her left side. Following a visit to her doctor for tests, she was then faced with the reality of an invasive ductal cancer diagnosis, a possible explanation for Dougie’s change in feeding habits.
Leigh Anne O’Connor, a certified lactation consultant, told Business Insider that this isn’t the first case of a baby responding to the presence of breast cancer. “The research is not 100% clear but we believe that the taste of milk changes when there is a tumour present,” she said. “More specifically it’s possible, though not certain, that cancer cells can make milk’s typical salty-sweet flavour more bitter and unpleasant.”
Cause For Alarm?
It is worth noting that babies may experience a similar reaction to the presence of mastitis, which is common in the first three months of breastfeeding.
In Joanne’s case, however, she believes that if not for Dougie, she may never have discovered the potentially fatal tumour and received life-saving treatment. It is a belief that is shared by Leigh Anne O’Connor. “As terrible as breast cancer is, I find it amazing that the babies react this way,” she said. “Perhaps it’s Mother Nature’s way of protecting the future.”
Have you or someone that you know been diagnosed with breast cancer? How was it discovered? Share your story in the comments.
You May Also Be Interested In:
Hilary Duff Reveals Breastfeeding Struggle
This Very Unusual Engagement Ring Sparks Outrage
Mum’s Shock As Breast Milk Turns Pink!
-
-
-
-
-
rachelvk said
- 17 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
AmbieBambi said
- 16 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
mom265671 said
- 14 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
mom90758 said
- 14 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
DaffyD said
- 14 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
Ellen said
- 14 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
serotonin said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
MrsA said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
mom129591 said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
ashna9 said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
mom206279 said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
becstalou said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
mom160421 said
- 13 Jul 2019
Reply
Post a comment9:33 pm
12:49 pm
11:27 pm
11:39 am
9:25 am
8:31 am
9:51 pm
9:42 pm
8:30 pm
7:15 pm
6:36 pm
1:08 pm
12:45 pm
To post a review/comment please join us or login so we can allocate your points.