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I haven't nursed yet, so I can't answer that question, but I know that my sister could not get a mammogram while BFing or for a certain number of months afterwards (like, 3 maybe). She has a history of cancer, though not breast cancer, so her doctor advised her to stop BFing after a year in order to limit the amount of time between mammograms (basically from before she got pregnant until a few months after weaning). But like I said, she specifically has a personal history of cancer, hence the specific concern for it.

I don't worry too much about it, but I do wonder how you would detect something during pregnancy and BFing, since like you, my breasts are definitely not their normal, even just pregnant. Your doctor can probably advise you on when you should get back in for a test.

@78h2o: Yes because there is a history of breast cancer in my family, But I know that breast feeding actually lowers your chance of getting breast cancer.

I would do your breast checks immediately after nursing or pumping. I tend not to feel lumps once I'm empty. If you still feel lumps when your empty I wouldn't hesitate tI ask your OB for some advice

Nope! But I obsessively worry about skin cancer!

Clogged ducts can be alarming, especially when they don't hurt. I had a little lump that stuck around for nearly a week and kind of freaked me out, but it eventually dissolved.

On a positive note: Statistically, breastfeeding is an excellent thing to do if you've got a strong family history of breast cancer. Read up on the Nurses' Health Study findings for some encouragement! Here's a link from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/health/research/11cancer.html?_r=0

@78h2o: I actually have been worrying less since I've been breastfeeding. I know that breastfeeding lowers the risk...and even when I feel the lumps now, I know it's usually clogged ducts.

I tested negative for BRCA, have had a mammogram but it was totally inconclusive because of the density of my breast tissue, but I've had numerous breast sonograms. I had a cyst but it disappeared.

My mom is breast cancer survivor (she was diagnosed at 41).

Lumpy breasts are normal during breastfeeding, as far as i understand.

My mom had breast cancer, diagnosed at age 50 (year 2008). She went for yearly mammograms, had a clear scan at 49, and then stage 4 breast cancer that had already spread to her lymph nodes by her yearly exam the following year. She had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. She's been cancer free for almost 5 years now.

She did not have the cancer gene. And we are pretty sure she developed cancer because she was taking synthetic estrogen because of her hysterectomy years prior (2004).

Either way, I try to keep a good eye on things. Breastfeeding helps reduce the odds of breast cancer so I am trying not to worry about the occasional lumps here and there. Nothing has stuck around for more than a short period of time. If anything comes up that concerns me, I'll be heading to the doctor immediately. And I don't plan on ever taking estrogen.

Yes, I worry about it all the time. The mothers of two of my close friends both died of breast cancer and I have fibrocystic breasts so I constantly feel lumps and worry about them. So far, so good but this is something that is always in the back of my mind.