Even though most changes in the breast during and after pregnancy are benign, a word of caution: breast cancer can and does happen in pregnant women and new mothers. Any unusual symptoms, such as a lump or irritated area, should be reported to your doctor right away. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and get it checked.
If you have a breast mass, your doctor likely will examine the breast and order an imaging study (or studies). Mammography with an abdominal shield (a special shield to protect the...
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
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Benign Breast Changes Associated With Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
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February 12, 2020
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Benign Breast Changes Associated With Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
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Mastalgia (Breast Pain)
Mastalgia, more commonly known as breast pain, affects many women at some point in their lives. Many women fear that pain and tenderness are early signs of breast cancer, but usually that’s not the case. You and your doctor can work together to rule out breast cancer as a possible cause — especially if you have other symptoms such as a mass, growth, or area of thickened tissue in the breast, nipple discharge, and/or inflammation.
If your pain feels focused in one area of the breast, it can be worth checking that with ultrasound....
Galactorrhea
Galactorrhea is milky breast discharge that happens in women who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding. It affects as many as 1 out of every 4 or 5 women. It can happen at any age, even after menopause, and even if you’ve never had children. Often it’s caused by excess levels of prolactin, the hormone that triggers milk production. Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of your brain. You may find that your menstrual periods stop or become less frequent while you have the milky discharge.
There...
Skin-associated Infection (Cellulitis)
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and underlying tissue caused by bacteria. This condition usually affects the lower half of the breast where sweat and bacteria tend to build up. The skin becomes red, warm, and inflamed, and the rash tends to spread throughout the area. You also can develop flu-like symptoms such as a fever and chills. Risk factors include being overweight, having large breasts, and/or having previous breast surgery or radiation therapy.
Cellulitis is a fast-spreading infection that requires prompt...
Subareolar/Periareolar Infection
Subareolar and periareolar infections can occur under or around the nipple and areola due to a blockage forming in one or more ducts. These infections are directly linked to smoking, and it’s hard to get them to heal until a woman stops smoking.
The infection can present as:
inflammation of the area, with or without a mass
an abscess (collection of pus)
subtle retraction (pulling inward) of the nipple
a mammary duct fistula, which is an abnormal passage that joins the skin in the areolar region directly to a duct under...
Mastitis
Mastitis
Mastitis is a condition in which the breast becomes inflamed due to an underlying infection. Although mastitis usually affects women during breastfeeding, it can happen at other times, too. Bacteria can enter the breast duct through the nipple or a skin break and lead to infection. As the body fights the infection, the breast can become red, inflamed, and tender.
Other symptoms may include:
fever, headache, generally feeling ill
a lump in the area
thick, whitish nipple discharge
an abscess, or the collection of...
Fat Necrosis and Oil Cysts
Fat necrosis and oil cysts are two different conditions that result from the same process: damage to fatty tissue inside the breast. This can happen as a result of an injury to the breast or treatments such as surgery and radiation therapy.
Fat necrosis develops when the body replaces damaged cells with firm scar tissue. Both during clinical breast exams and on a mammogram, it’s often impossible to tell the difference between fat necrosis and breast cancer. So biopsy is needed for diagnosis.
With oil cysts, the fat cells...
