Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Jul 8;32(12):8720-8727.
doi: 10.1245/s10434-025-17742-7. Online ahead of print.

Oncolactation for Patients with Breast Cancer: Executive Summary from the American Society of Breast Surgeons

Helen M Johnson  1 , Megan E Miller  2 , Katrina B Mitchell  3 ; American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Research Committee
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Oncolactation for Patients with Breast Cancer: Executive Summary from the American Society of Breast Surgeons

Helen M Johnson et al. Ann Surg Oncol. .

Abstract

Despite increasing rates of pregnancy-related and postpartum breast cancers and growing recognition of oncofertility as an important component of survivorship, few guidelines exist to guide surgical oncologists in managing lactation during or after breast cancer treatment. To address this need, the American Society of Breast Surgeons developed evidence-based oncolactation recommendations for breast cancer patients. This review outlines the management of patients with breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy or lactation, and provides guidance regarding surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy. It also reviews strategies for supporting lactation following breast cancer treatment and discusses screening in the pregnant and lactating population.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Breastfeeding; Lactation; Oncolactation; Postpartum; Pregnancy; Screening; Survivorship.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest or financial support to declare.

References

    1. Lefrère H, Lenaerts L, Borges VF, Schedin P, Neven P, Amant F. Postpartum breast cancer: mechanisms underlying its worse prognosis, treatment implications, and fertility preservation. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2021;31(3):412–22. 10.1136/ijgc-2020-002072. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cottreau CM, Dashevsky I, Andrade SE, et al. Pregnancy-Associated Cancer: A U.S. Population-Based Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2019;28(2):250–7. 10.1089/jwh.2018.6962. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Johnson HM, Mitchell KB. Breastfeeding and Breast Cancer: Managing Lactation in Survivors and Women with a New Diagnosis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019;26(10):3032–9. 10.1245/s10434-019-07596-1. - PubMed
    1. Johnson HM, Teshome M, Singh P, Mitchell KB. Lactation Education for Surgeons: American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) Survey Demonstrates Strong Member Interest in Expanded Training. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023;30(10):6125–32. 10.1245/s10434-023-13882-w. - PubMed
    1. Johnson HM, Miller M, Mitchell KB, and the ASBrS Research Committee. The American Society of Breast Surgeons’ Resource Guide on Oncolactation. Accessed September 9, 2024. https://www.breastsurgeons.org/docs/statements/ASBrS-Resource-Guide-on-O...

LinkOut - more resources