I've been doing some reading recently, and see that elevated prolactin levels are occasionally used as a cancer marker, similar to CEA and may(?) be an indicator of poorer prognosis. I have been breastfeeding for the past 11 months since my son was born. Prolactin is the hormone that causes women to produce breast milk. Have been slowly working on weaning over the past month in preparation for surgery but--even without the cancer--I'm sure my prolactin levels would still be elevated. Now I'm worried that perhaps I should have been more aggressive about weaning and trying to get my prolactin down prior to surgery.
Does anyone here know anything more specific or have you had conversations with your oncologist about prolactin? I've done lots of Internet searches but can't seem to find any information about links between cancer and breastfeeding. Am very concerned that perhaps the breastfeeding has been feeding my tumor growth and that continued high prolactin levels at the time of surgery could increase my risks for metastasis.