[e-drug] Toxicity concerns for fetus ........

["Joan Ramos" <joaninha@comcast.net>]

E-DRUG: Toxicity concerns for fetus ........
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Toxicity concerns for fetus of mother nursing other child undergoing chemotherapy

Can any of you point me to  information or studies on this issue? The 
question came from an oncology social work colleague  working in a 
hospital in another state.  I referred her to the hospital's pharmacist, 
but in the meantime wanted to ask for your collective wisdom.

In the case at hand there are actually 2  inter-related issues, only one 
of which is relevant here. The case concerns a child  about 2 y.o. who 
has  been diagnosed with some form of leukemia, and is  now 
hospitalized  undergoing chemotherapy.  He had been almost weaned, but  
his mother, who is 5-6 months pregnant, is now nursing him almost 
exclusively  for his nutritional intake.  The physicians have expressed 
concern for the  health of the fetus, but so far the mother has not 
been willing to consider any other plans to wean the sick child and 
ensure that  his comfort needs can be met in other ways at this very 
stressful time.  I do not know what chemo regimen the child is being 
given. (There are also some  major & complex issues of family dynamics 
going on which complicate the  situation, which  the social worker is 
working with family and medical team on. )

Thank you,

Joana Ramos, MSW
Cancer Resources & Advocacy
Seattle WA USA
Tel. +1-206-229-2420
http://ramoslink.info/
www.cancersurvivorsproject.org
www.healthyskepticism.org
Joan Ramos <joaninha@comcast.net>