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Swollen milk glands in breast: Mastitis – Symptoms and causes

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Breast Infection (Mastitis): Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

How the Breast Is Built

The breast is composed of several glands and ducts that lead to the nipple and the surrounding colored area called the areola. The milk-carrying ducts extend from the nipple into the underlying breast tissue like the spokes of a wheel. Under the areola are lactiferous ducts. These fill with milk during lactation after a woman has a baby. When a girl reaches puberty, changing hormones cause the ducts to grow and cause fat deposits in the breast tissue to increase. The glands that produce milk (mammary glands) that are connected to the surface of the breast by the lactiferous ducts may extend to the armpit area.

 

Breast Infection Causes

Mastitis is an infection of the tissue of the breast that occurs most frequently during the time of breastfeeding. It can occur when bacteria, often from the baby’s mouth, enter a milk duct through a crack in the nipple.

Breast infections most commonly occur one to three months after the delivery of a baby, but they can occur in women who have not recently delivered and in women after menopause. Other causes of infection include chronic mastitis and a rare form of cancer called inflammatory carcinoma.

In healthy women, mastitis is rare. However, women with diabetes, chronic illness, AIDS, or an impaired immune system may be more susceptible.

About 1%-3% of breastfeeding mothers develop mastitis. Engorgement and incomplete breast emptying can contribute to the problem and make the symptoms worse.

Chronic mastitis occurs in women who are not breastfeeding. In postmenopausal women, breast infections may be associated with chronic inflammation of the ducts below the nipple. Hormonal changes in the body can cause the milk ducts to become clogged with dead skin cells and debris. These clogged ducts make the breast more open to bacterial infection. Infection tends to come back after treatment with antibiotics.

Breast Infection Symptoms

Breast infections may cause pain, redness, and warmth of the breast along with the following symptoms:

  • Tenderness and swelling
  • Body aches
  • Fatigue
  • Breast engorgement
  • Fever and chills
  • Abscess: A breast abscess can be a complication of mastitis. Noncancerous masses such as abscesses are more often tender and frequently feel mobile beneath the skin. The edge of the mass is usually regular and well defined. Indications that this more serious infection has occurred include the following:
    • Tender lump in the breast that does not get smaller after breastfeeding a newborn (If the abscess is deep in the breast, you may not be able to feel it.)
    • Pus draining from the nipple
    • Persistent fever and no improvement of symptoms within 48-72 hours of treatment

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your health care provider as soon as you feel any suspicious lump, whether you are breastfeeding or not. Call for an appointment if:

  • You have any abnormal discharge from your nipples.
  • Breast pain is making it difficult for you to function each day.
  • You have prolonged, unexplained breast pain.
  • You have any other associated symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain that interferes with breastfeeding, a mass or tender lump in the breast that does not disappear after breastfeeding.
  • If you are breastfeeding, call your doctor if you develop any symptoms of breast infection so that treatment may be started promptly.

You may need to be evaluated in a hospital’s emergency department if the breast pain is associated with other signs of an infection (such as a fever, swelling, or redness to the breast) and if your health care provider cannot see you promptly. The below symptoms require emergency treatment:

  • A persistent high fever greater than 101.5°F
  • Nausea or vomiting that is preventing you from taking the antibiotics as prescribed
  • Pus draining from the breast
  • Red streaks extending toward your arm or chest
  • Dizziness, fainting, or confusion

Breast Infection Exams and Tests

The diagnosis of mastitis and a breast abscess can usually be made based on a physical exam.

  • If it is unclear whether a mass is due to a fluid-filled abscess or to a solid mass such as a tumor, a test such as an ultrasound may be done. An ultrasound may also be helpful in distinguishing between simple mastitis and abscess or in diagnosing an abscess deep in the breast. This noninvasive test allows your doctor to directly visualize the abscess by placing an ultrasound probe over your breast. If an abscess is confirmed, aspiration or surgical drainage, and IV antibiotics, are often required.
  • Cultures may be taken, either of breast milk or of material taken out of an abscess through a syringe, to determine the type of organism causing the infection. This information can help your doctor decide what kind of antibiotic to use.
  • Nonbreastfeeding women with mastitis, or those who do not respond to treatment, may have a mammogram or breast biopsy. This is a precautionary measure because a rare type of breast cancer can produce symptoms of mastitis.

 

Breast Infection Treatment

Breast infections require treatment by a health care provider.

Breast Infection Home Remedies

After you see a doctor, try the following to help your breast infection heal.

  • Pain medication: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) for pain. These drugs are safe while breastfeeding and will not harm your baby. Your doctor may prescribe a prescription strength pain reliever if your pain is severe and not relieved with over-the-counter medication.
  • In mild cases of mastitis, antibiotics may not be prescribed at all. If you are prescribed antibiotics, finishing the prescription even if you feel better in a few days is very important.
  • Frequent feedings: Do not stop breastfeeding from the affected breast, even though it will be painful and you may be taking antibiotics. Frequent emptying of the breast prevents engorgement and clogged ducts that can only make mastitis worse.
    • If needed, use a breast pump to relieve pressure and completely empty the breast.
    • You can also breastfeed from the unaffected side and supplement with infant formula as needed.
    • The infection will not harm the baby because the germs that caused the infection probably came from the baby’s mouth in the first place.
    • Breastfeeding should be avoided in the infected breast when an abscess is present.
  • Pain relief: A warm compress applied before and after feedings can often provide some relief. A warm bath may work as well.
    • If heat is ineffective, ice packs applied after feedings may provide some comfort and relief.
    • Avoid using ice packs just before breastfeeding because it can slow down milk flow.
    • Drink plenty of water — at least 10 glasses a day. Eat well-balanced meals and add 500 extra calories a day while breastfeeding. Dehydration and poor nutrition can decrease milk supply and make you feel worse.

Medications for Mastitis

For simple mastitis without an abscess, oral antibiotics are prescribed. Cephalexin (Keflex) and dicloxacillin (Dycill) are two of the most common antibiotics chosen, but a number of others are available. The antibiotic prescribed will depend on your specific situation, your doctor’s preference, and any drug allergies you may have. This medicine is safe to use while breastfeeding and will not harm the baby.

Chronic mastitis in nonbreastfeeding women can be complicated. Recurrent episodes of mastitis are common. Occasionally, this type of infection responds poorly to antibiotics. Therefore, close follow-up with your doctor is mandatory.

If the infection worsens in spite of oral antibiotics or if you have a deep abscess requiring surgical treatment, you may be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics.

Surgery for an Abscess

If an abscess is present, it must be drained. After injection of a local anesthetic, the doctor may drain an abscess near the surface of the skin either by aspiration with a needle and syringe or by using a small incision. This can be done in the doctor’s office or emergency department.

If the abscess is deep in the breast, however, it may require surgical drainage in the operating room. This procedure is usually done under general anesthesia to minimize pain and completely drain the abscess. Antibiotics and heat on the area are also used to treat abscesses.

Next Steps

Mastitis does not cause cancer, but cancer can mimic mastitis in appearance. If a breast infection is slow to go away, your health care provider may recommend a mammogram or other tests to rule out cancer.

Follow-Up Care After a Breast Infection

If you have a breast infection, you may be seen for a recheck in 24-48 hours.

  • Take all antibiotics as prescribed.
  • Take your temperature three times a day for the first 48 hours after treatment begins. Watch for fever.
  • Call your doctor if you develop a high fever, vomiting, or increasing redness, swelling, or pain in the breast.
  • Follow up with your doctor in one to two weeks to make sure that the infection has gone away. If the infection spreads or an abscess develops, you may require IV antibiotics or surgical treatment.

Mastitis Prevention

Sometimes mastitis is unavoidable. Some women are more susceptible than others, especially those who are breastfeeding for the first time. In general, good habits to prevent mastitis include the following:

  • Breastfeed equally from both breasts.
  • Empty breasts completely to prevent engorgement and blocked ducts.
  • Use good breastfeeding techniques to prevent sore, cracked nipples.
  • Allow sore or cracked nipples to air dry.
  • Prevent moisture from accumulating in breast pads or bras.
  • Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
  • Practice careful hygiene: Handwashing, cleaning the nipples, keeping your baby clean.

Outlook for Breast Infections

When treated promptly, the majority of breast infections go away quickly and without serious complications. Most women can and should continue to breastfeed despite an episode of uncomplicated mastitis. With proper treatment, symptoms should begin to resolve within one to two days.

A breast abscess may require surgical drainage, IV antibiotics, and a short hospital stay. A small incision is made and usually heals quite well. Prognosis for complete recovery is also good.

Postmenopausal women with breast abscesses have a high rate of return after simple drainage and frequently need to follow up with a surgeon for more definitive treatment. Chronic infection can result if an abscess is not completely drained, and this can result in a poor cosmetic outcome.

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is an infection that develops in breast tissue. The painful condition causes one breast to become swollen, red and inflamed. In rare cases, it affects both breasts. Mastitis is a type of benign (noncancerous) breast disease.

Who might get mastitis?

Mastitis most commonly occurs during the first six to 12 weeks of breastfeeding. But men, as well as women who aren’t breastfeeding, also get mastitis. You’re more likely to get mastitis if you have:

  • Breast implants.
  • Diabetes or other autoimmune disease.
  • Eczema or similar skin condition.
  • Nicks in skin from plucking or shaving chest hairs.
  • Nipple piercing.
  • Tobacco or nicotine addiction (smoking).

What are the types of mastitis?

The different types of mastitis include:

  • Lactation: This infection type affects breastfeeding women. Also called puerperal mastitis, it’s the most common.
  • Periductal: Menopausal and postmenopausal women and smokers are more prone to periductal mastitis. Also called mammary duct ectasia, this condition occurs when milk ducts thicken. The nipple on the affected breast may turn inward (inverted nipple) and produce a milky discharge.

Does mastitis increase your risk of breast cancer?

Mastitis doesn’t increase your risk of breast cancer. However, mastitis symptoms are similar to inflammatory breast cancer symptoms. This rare type of breast cancer causes breast skin changes. Signs may include dimples and a breast rash that has an orange-peel texture. Like mastitis, one or both breasts may become red and swollen. Inflammatory breast cancer doesn’t usually cause breast lumps.

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer. It requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Contact your healthcare provider right away any time you notice breast changes.

Is it safe to continue breastfeeding when you have mastitis?

Yes, you should continue to nurse your baby. You can’t pass a breast infection to your baby through breast milk. In fact, breast milk has antibacterial properties that help babies fight infections. Antibiotics that your provider prescribes for mastitis are also safe for your baby.

It may be uncomfortable to nurse when you have mastitis. But breastfeeding helps move milk through milk ducts, opening them up. When nursing, start your baby on the affected breast first. That way, you’ll ensure milk doesn’t stay in the milk ducts and allow bacteria to grow.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes mastitis?

Mastitis occurs when bacteria found on skin or saliva enter breast tissue through a milk duct or crack in the skin. Milk ducts are a part of breast anatomy that carry milk to the nipples. All genders have milk ducts and can get mastitis.

Infection also happens when milk backs up due to a blocked milk duct or problematic breastfeeding technique. Bacteria grow in the stagnant milk. These factors increase the risk of a nursing mom developing mastitis:

  • Cracked, sore nipples.
  • Improper latching technique or using only one position to breastfeed.
  • Wearing tight-fitting bras that restrict milk flow.

What are the symptoms of mastitis?

Many people with mastitis develop a wedge-shaped red mark on one breast. (Rarely, mastitis affects both breasts.) The breast may be swollen and feel hot or tender to touch. You may also experience:

Diagnosis and Tests

How is mastitis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and check your symptoms to make a diagnosis. If you aren’t breastfeeding, you may get a mammogram or other tests to rule out breast cancer or a different breast condition.

Management and Treatment

How is mastitis managed or treated?

Your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antibiotic to treat mastitis. The infection should clear up within 10 days but may last as long as three weeks. Mastitis sometimes goes away without medical treatment.

To reduce pain and inflammation, you can:

  • Apply warm, moist compresses to the affected breast every few hours or take a warm shower.
  • Breastfeed every two hours or more often to keep milk flowing through the milk ducts. If needed, use a breast pump to express milk between feedings.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and rest when possible.
  • Massage the area using a gentle circular motion starting at the outside of the affected area and working in toward the nipple.
  • Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
  • Wear a supportive bra that doesn’t compress the breast.

Can I get mastitis more than once?

Yes, it’s possible to get mastitis multiple times. If you’re breastfeeding and frequently get mastitis, your healthcare provider may recommend seeing a lactation consultant (breastfeeding specialist). There may be a problem with how the baby is positioned or latches on during nursing.

What are the complications of mastitis?

If left untreated, a breast infection like mastitis can lead to a breast abscess. This type of abscess typically needs to be surgically drained. If you have an abscess that needs to be drained, your healthcare provider will perform minor surgery or use a small needle to drain the pus. Often, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. A breast abscess will not go away with warm compresses.

Prevention

How can I prevent mastitis?

Breastfeeding moms can take these steps to lower their chances of getting mastitis:

  • Air out your nipples after nursing.
  • Don’t wear nursing pads or tight-fitting bras that keep nipples moist.
  • Nurse your baby on one side, allowing the breast to empty, before switching to the other breast.
  • Switch up breastfeeding positions to fully empty all areas of the breast.
  • Use your finger to break your baby’s suction on a nipple if you need to stop a feeding.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with mastitis?

Mastitis is painful and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t cause long-term problems. If you’re nursing, you may make less milk as your body fights off the infection. Milk production should increase as you start to feel better. A breast infection like mastitis in someone who isn’t breastfeeding may be cause for concern. See your healthcare provider.

Living With

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Breast pain.
  • Changes in the way your breasts look or feel.
  • Newly discovered lump.
  • Nipple discharge.
  • Worsening of mastitis symptoms after 24 hours of antibiotics or at-home treatment.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Why did I get mastitis?
  • What is the best treatment for me?
  • What steps can I take to prevent getting mastitis again?
  • Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Any type of breast change is a reason to call your healthcare provider. While mastitis isn’t cancerous, your healthcare provider should evaluate your symptoms. Rarely, breast infection symptoms are a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Breastfeeding moms who develop mastitis may benefit from a consultation with a lactation consultant. This expert can ensure proper latching and breastfeeding technique so you don’t develop mastitis again.

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is an infection that develops in breast tissue. The painful condition causes one breast to become swollen, red and inflamed. In rare cases, it affects both breasts. Mastitis is a type of benign (noncancerous) breast disease.

Who might get mastitis?

Mastitis most commonly occurs during the first six to 12 weeks of breastfeeding. But men, as well as women who aren’t breastfeeding, also get mastitis. You’re more likely to get mastitis if you have:

  • Breast implants.
  • Diabetes or other autoimmune disease.
  • Eczema or similar skin condition.
  • Nicks in skin from plucking or shaving chest hairs.
  • Nipple piercing.
  • Tobacco or nicotine addiction (smoking).

What are the types of mastitis?

The different types of mastitis include:

  • Lactation: This infection type affects breastfeeding women. Also called puerperal mastitis, it’s the most common.
  • Periductal: Menopausal and postmenopausal women and smokers are more prone to periductal mastitis. Also called mammary duct ectasia, this condition occurs when milk ducts thicken. The nipple on the affected breast may turn inward (inverted nipple) and produce a milky discharge.

Does mastitis increase your risk of breast cancer?

Mastitis doesn’t increase your risk of breast cancer. However, mastitis symptoms are similar to inflammatory breast cancer symptoms. This rare type of breast cancer causes breast skin changes. Signs may include dimples and a breast rash that has an orange-peel texture. Like mastitis, one or both breasts may become red and swollen. Inflammatory breast cancer doesn’t usually cause breast lumps.

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer. It requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Contact your healthcare provider right away any time you notice breast changes.

Is it safe to continue breastfeeding when you have mastitis?

Yes, you should continue to nurse your baby. You can’t pass a breast infection to your baby through breast milk. In fact, breast milk has antibacterial properties that help babies fight infections. Antibiotics that your provider prescribes for mastitis are also safe for your baby.

It may be uncomfortable to nurse when you have mastitis. But breastfeeding helps move milk through milk ducts, opening them up. When nursing, start your baby on the affected breast first. That way, you’ll ensure milk doesn’t stay in the milk ducts and allow bacteria to grow.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes mastitis?

Mastitis occurs when bacteria found on skin or saliva enter breast tissue through a milk duct or crack in the skin. Milk ducts are a part of breast anatomy that carry milk to the nipples. All genders have milk ducts and can get mastitis.

Infection also happens when milk backs up due to a blocked milk duct or problematic breastfeeding technique. Bacteria grow in the stagnant milk. These factors increase the risk of a nursing mom developing mastitis:

  • Cracked, sore nipples.
  • Improper latching technique or using only one position to breastfeed.
  • Wearing tight-fitting bras that restrict milk flow.

What are the symptoms of mastitis?

Many people with mastitis develop a wedge-shaped red mark on one breast. (Rarely, mastitis affects both breasts.) The breast may be swollen and feel hot or tender to touch. You may also experience:

Diagnosis and Tests

How is mastitis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and check your symptoms to make a diagnosis. If you aren’t breastfeeding, you may get a mammogram or other tests to rule out breast cancer or a different breast condition.

Management and Treatment

How is mastitis managed or treated?

Your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antibiotic to treat mastitis. The infection should clear up within 10 days but may last as long as three weeks. Mastitis sometimes goes away without medical treatment.

To reduce pain and inflammation, you can:

  • Apply warm, moist compresses to the affected breast every few hours or take a warm shower.
  • Breastfeed every two hours or more often to keep milk flowing through the milk ducts. If needed, use a breast pump to express milk between feedings.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and rest when possible.
  • Massage the area using a gentle circular motion starting at the outside of the affected area and working in toward the nipple.
  • Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
  • Wear a supportive bra that doesn’t compress the breast.

Can I get mastitis more than once?

Yes, it’s possible to get mastitis multiple times. If you’re breastfeeding and frequently get mastitis, your healthcare provider may recommend seeing a lactation consultant (breastfeeding specialist). There may be a problem with how the baby is positioned or latches on during nursing.

What are the complications of mastitis?

If left untreated, a breast infection like mastitis can lead to a breast abscess. This type of abscess typically needs to be surgically drained. If you have an abscess that needs to be drained, your healthcare provider will perform minor surgery or use a small needle to drain the pus. Often, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. A breast abscess will not go away with warm compresses.

Prevention

How can I prevent mastitis?

Breastfeeding moms can take these steps to lower their chances of getting mastitis:

  • Air out your nipples after nursing.
  • Don’t wear nursing pads or tight-fitting bras that keep nipples moist.
  • Nurse your baby on one side, allowing the breast to empty, before switching to the other breast.
  • Switch up breastfeeding positions to fully empty all areas of the breast.
  • Use your finger to break your baby’s suction on a nipple if you need to stop a feeding.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with mastitis?

Mastitis is painful and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t cause long-term problems. If you’re nursing, you may make less milk as your body fights off the infection. Milk production should increase as you start to feel better. A breast infection like mastitis in someone who isn’t breastfeeding may be cause for concern. See your healthcare provider.

Living With

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Breast pain.
  • Changes in the way your breasts look or feel.
  • Newly discovered lump.
  • Nipple discharge.
  • Worsening of mastitis symptoms after 24 hours of antibiotics or at-home treatment.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Why did I get mastitis?
  • What is the best treatment for me?
  • What steps can I take to prevent getting mastitis again?
  • Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Any type of breast change is a reason to call your healthcare provider. While mastitis isn’t cancerous, your healthcare provider should evaluate your symptoms. Rarely, breast infection symptoms are a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Breastfeeding moms who develop mastitis may benefit from a consultation with a lactation consultant. This expert can ensure proper latching and breastfeeding technique so you don’t develop mastitis again.

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Overview

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is an infection that develops in breast tissue. The painful condition causes one breast to become swollen, red and inflamed. In rare cases, it affects both breasts. Mastitis is a type of benign (noncancerous) breast disease.

Who might get mastitis?

Mastitis most commonly occurs during the first six to 12 weeks of breastfeeding. But men, as well as women who aren’t breastfeeding, also get mastitis. You’re more likely to get mastitis if you have:

  • Breast implants.
  • Diabetes or other autoimmune disease.
  • Eczema or similar skin condition.
  • Nicks in skin from plucking or shaving chest hairs.
  • Nipple piercing.
  • Tobacco or nicotine addiction (smoking).

What are the types of mastitis?

The different types of mastitis include:

  • Lactation: This infection type affects breastfeeding women. Also called puerperal mastitis, it’s the most common.
  • Periductal: Menopausal and postmenopausal women and smokers are more prone to periductal mastitis. Also called mammary duct ectasia, this condition occurs when milk ducts thicken. The nipple on the affected breast may turn inward (inverted nipple) and produce a milky discharge.

Does mastitis increase your risk of breast cancer?

Mastitis doesn’t increase your risk of breast cancer. However, mastitis symptoms are similar to inflammatory breast cancer symptoms. This rare type of breast cancer causes breast skin changes. Signs may include dimples and a breast rash that has an orange-peel texture. Like mastitis, one or both breasts may become red and swollen. Inflammatory breast cancer doesn’t usually cause breast lumps.

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer. It requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Contact your healthcare provider right away any time you notice breast changes.

Is it safe to continue breastfeeding when you have mastitis?

Yes, you should continue to nurse your baby. You can’t pass a breast infection to your baby through breast milk. In fact, breast milk has antibacterial properties that help babies fight infections. Antibiotics that your provider prescribes for mastitis are also safe for your baby.

It may be uncomfortable to nurse when you have mastitis. But breastfeeding helps move milk through milk ducts, opening them up. When nursing, start your baby on the affected breast first. That way, you’ll ensure milk doesn’t stay in the milk ducts and allow bacteria to grow.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes mastitis?

Mastitis occurs when bacteria found on skin or saliva enter breast tissue through a milk duct or crack in the skin. Milk ducts are a part of breast anatomy that carry milk to the nipples. All genders have milk ducts and can get mastitis.

Infection also happens when milk backs up due to a blocked milk duct or problematic breastfeeding technique. Bacteria grow in the stagnant milk. These factors increase the risk of a nursing mom developing mastitis:

  • Cracked, sore nipples.
  • Improper latching technique or using only one position to breastfeed.
  • Wearing tight-fitting bras that restrict milk flow.

What are the symptoms of mastitis?

Many people with mastitis develop a wedge-shaped red mark on one breast. (Rarely, mastitis affects both breasts.) The breast may be swollen and feel hot or tender to touch. You may also experience:

Diagnosis and Tests

How is mastitis diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will do a physical exam and check your symptoms to make a diagnosis. If you aren’t breastfeeding, you may get a mammogram or other tests to rule out breast cancer or a different breast condition.

Management and Treatment

How is mastitis managed or treated?

Your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral antibiotic to treat mastitis. The infection should clear up within 10 days but may last as long as three weeks. Mastitis sometimes goes away without medical treatment.

To reduce pain and inflammation, you can:

  • Apply warm, moist compresses to the affected breast every few hours or take a warm shower.
  • Breastfeed every two hours or more often to keep milk flowing through the milk ducts. If needed, use a breast pump to express milk between feedings.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and rest when possible.
  • Massage the area using a gentle circular motion starting at the outside of the affected area and working in toward the nipple.
  • Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
  • Wear a supportive bra that doesn’t compress the breast.

Can I get mastitis more than once?

Yes, it’s possible to get mastitis multiple times. If you’re breastfeeding and frequently get mastitis, your healthcare provider may recommend seeing a lactation consultant (breastfeeding specialist). There may be a problem with how the baby is positioned or latches on during nursing.

What are the complications of mastitis?

If left untreated, a breast infection like mastitis can lead to a breast abscess. This type of abscess typically needs to be surgically drained. If you have an abscess that needs to be drained, your healthcare provider will perform minor surgery or use a small needle to drain the pus. Often, you may need to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. A breast abscess will not go away with warm compresses.

Prevention

How can I prevent mastitis?

Breastfeeding moms can take these steps to lower their chances of getting mastitis:

  • Air out your nipples after nursing.
  • Don’t wear nursing pads or tight-fitting bras that keep nipples moist.
  • Nurse your baby on one side, allowing the breast to empty, before switching to the other breast.
  • Switch up breastfeeding positions to fully empty all areas of the breast.
  • Use your finger to break your baby’s suction on a nipple if you need to stop a feeding.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with mastitis?

Mastitis is painful and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t cause long-term problems. If you’re nursing, you may make less milk as your body fights off the infection. Milk production should increase as you start to feel better. A breast infection like mastitis in someone who isn’t breastfeeding may be cause for concern. See your healthcare provider.

Living With

When should I call the doctor?

You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Breast pain.
  • Changes in the way your breasts look or feel.
  • Newly discovered lump.
  • Nipple discharge.
  • Worsening of mastitis symptoms after 24 hours of antibiotics or at-home treatment.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

  • Why did I get mastitis?
  • What is the best treatment for me?
  • What steps can I take to prevent getting mastitis again?
  • Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Any type of breast change is a reason to call your healthcare provider. While mastitis isn’t cancerous, your healthcare provider should evaluate your symptoms. Rarely, breast infection symptoms are a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Breastfeeding moms who develop mastitis may benefit from a consultation with a lactation consultant. This expert can ensure proper latching and breastfeeding technique so you don’t develop mastitis again.

Mammary Duct Ectasia: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Overview

What is mammary duct ectasia?

Mammary duct ectasia is a noncancerous breast condition causing inflammation (swelling) and a thickening of the milk ducts. It is also known as duct ectasia or periductal mastitis.

Who is likely to have mammary duct ectasia?

Anyone can have mammary duct ectasia. The condition is more common among women who are approaching menopause. It can also occur after menopause.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes mammary duct ectasia?

Mammary duct ectasia results from inflammation (swelling). This inflammation causes a milk duct within the breast to widen and thicken. As inflammation worsens, milk ducts become blocked, and fluid builds up behind the blockage.

While the exact cause of this inflammation is unknown, researchers think that bacterial infection of the milk ducts make it more likely for a woman to develop mammary duct ectasia.

What are the symptoms of mammary duct ectasia?

For many women, periductal mastitis causes no symptoms. However, some women experience symptoms that can include:

  • Breast tenderness
  • Redness
  • Inverted nipple (nipple turning inward)
  • Thick nipple discharge that may be green or black

In a small number of women, mammary duct ectasia causes lumps to form in the breast. Lumps develop as a result of scar tissue that forms around inflamed milk ducts. The lump may be confused with breast cancer, but it is not cancer.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is mammary duct ectasia diagnosed?

Your doctor diagnoses mammary duct ectasia by removing a small sample of breast tissue from the affected breast. This procedure, called a biopsy, enables your doctor to examine your breast tissue under a microscope. With close examination, doctors can detect any changes in the tissue.

If you have a lump in your breast, your doctor biopsies the lump to check for cancer.

In some cases, doctors use ultrasound to view the interior of your breast. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of interior body structures. Your doctor may also order a mammogram or a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI). Mammography machines use X-rays to view any changes in your breast, while MRIs use radio waves and powerful magnets to create detailed images of your breast.

Management and Treatment

How is mammary duct ectasia treated?

For many women, mammary duct ectasia resolves on its own with no treatment. Some women find simple care, like warm compresses applied to the breast, is enough to manage symptoms.

If a bacterial infection causes your condition, your doctor prescribes antibiotic medications. Generally, you take antibiotics until the infection subsides, which may be a week or more.

If a milk duct remains blocked despite other treatments, your doctor can remove the inflamed duct surgically.

What complications are associated with mammary duct ectasia?

Left untreated, a bacterial infection causing duct ectasia may cause more widespread infection and tissue damage.

Mammary duct ectasia does not increase your risk for breast cancer.

Prevention

Can mammary duct ectasia be prevented?

There is no way to prevent mammary duct ectasia. Some research suggests certain lifestyle factors may increase your likelihood of developing this condition. These factors include:

Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and managing diabetes may all help prevent the development of mammary duct ectasia.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with mammary duct ectasia?

Most women recover from mammary duct ectasia without treatment. Women who do need treatment usually recover completely, without any complications.

Living With

What questions should I ask my doctor?

If you think you may have mammary duct ectasia, you may have many questions for your doctor, including:

  • How can I treat my condition at home?
  • What signs or symptoms should I watch out for that might indicate my condition is worsening?
  • How will I know my lump is caused by mammary duct ectasia and not by breast cancer?
  • Which treatments will be most effective for my symptoms?

Breast Engorgement | Michigan Medicine

Overview

What is breast engorgement, and what causes it?

Breast engorgement means your breasts are painfully overfull of milk. This usually occurs when a mother makes more milk than her baby uses. Your breasts may become firm and swollen, which can make it hard for your baby to breastfeed. Engorged breasts can be treated at home.

Engorgement may happen:

  • When your milk first comes in, during the first few days after birth.
  • When you have a regular breastfeeding routine but can’t nurse or pump as much as usual.
  • If you suddenly stop breastfeeding.
  • When your baby suddenly starts breastfeeding less than usual. This may happen when your baby is starting or increasing solid foods or when your baby is ill and has a poor appetite.

Your breasts start making milk about 2 to 5 days after your baby is born. (Before that, they make colostrum, which contains important nutrients that your baby needs right after birth.) It’s normal for your breasts to feel heavy, warm, and swollen when your milk “comes in.” This early breast fullness is from the milk you make and extra blood and fluids in your breasts. Your body uses the extra fluids to make more breast milk for your baby.

This normal breast fullness will probably go away in a few days as you breastfeed and your body adjusts to your baby’s needs. Your breasts may become painfully engorged if you aren’t breastfeeding your baby often or if the feedings don’t empty your breasts.

Your breasts will be engorged for several days if you don’t or can’t breastfeed after your baby is born. This will gradually go away if your breasts are not stimulated to make milk. At present, there is no approved medicine to “dry up” your milk supply and prevent engorgement.

If you have any concerns or questions, you can work with a lactation consultant. This is someone who helps mothers learn to breastfeed.

What are common symptoms?

Symptoms of engorged breasts include:

  • Swollen, firm, and painful breasts. If the breasts are severely engorged, they are very swollen, hard, shiny, warm, and slightly lumpy to the touch.
  • Flattened nipples. The dark area around the nipple, the areola, may be very firm. This makes it hard for your baby to latch on.
  • A slight fever of around 100.4°F (38°C).
  • Slightly swollen and tender lymph nodes in your armpits.

What can happen if breast engorgement gets worse?

If engorgement is severe, your breasts get very swollen and painful. Severe engorgement can make it hard for your baby to latch on to the breast properly. As a result:

  • Your baby may not get enough milk.
  • Your breasts may not empty completely.
  • Your nipples may become sore and cracked. This may cause you to breastfeed less, and that makes the engorgement worse.

Severe engorgement can lead to blocked milk ducts and breast infection, which is called mastitis. Mastitis needs to be treated with antibiotics.

How is it treated?

If engorgement is making it hard to breastfeed, use the following steps. They can relieve your symptoms and keep your milk flowing.

  • Soften your breasts before feedings. You can apply a warm compress for a couple of minutes before you breastfeed. Or you can use your hands or use a pump to let out (express) a small amount of milk from both breasts.
  • Try to breastfeed more often. Pump your breasts if your baby won’t breastfeed. Take care to empty your breasts each time.
  • Take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) to reduce pain and swelling. Ibuprofen is safe for breastfeeding moms when taken as directed. But it’s a good idea to check with your doctor before you take any kind of medicine while breastfeeding.
  • If your breasts still feel uncomfortable after nursing, try a cold compress to reduce swelling. You can use a frozen wet towel, a cold pack, or a bag of frozen vegetables. Apply it to your breasts for 15 minutes at a time every hour as needed. To prevent damage to your skin, place a thin cloth between your breast and the cold pack.

If you are not breastfeeding, use one or more of these steps to relieve discomfort:

  • Do not pump or remove a lot of milk from your breasts. If your breasts are very painful, it’s okay to remove just a little bit to make you more comfortable.
  • Apply a cold pack to your breasts for 15 minutes at a time every hour as needed. To prevent damage to your skin, place a thin cloth between your breast and the cold pack.
  • Take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) in addition to using non-medicine treatments. Be safe with ibuprofen. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Wear a bra that fits well and provides good support.

How can you prevent breast engorgement?

You may be able to prevent engorgement if you keep milk moving out of your breasts and take care not to let your breasts become overfilled.

  • Breastfeed whenever you notice signs that your baby is hungry, such as eagerly sucking on fingers or rooting.
  • Make sure that your baby is latching on and feeding well. If your breasts are hard and overfilled, let out (express) enough to soften your nipples before putting your baby to the breast.
  • Empty your breasts with each feeding. Empty one breast completely before you switch to the other side. You can tell that it’s time to switch sides when both of the following things happen:
    • Your baby’s sucking slows down a lot or stops.
    • You can no longer hear your baby swallowing.

References

Other Works Consulted

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (2009). Feeding your baby: Breast and bottle. In SP Shelov et al., eds., Caring For Your Baby And Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 5th ed., chap. 4, pp. 91–93. New York: Bantam.
  • Cunningham FG, et al. (2010). The puerperium. In Williams Obstetrics, 23rd ed., pp. 646–660. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Credits

Current as of:
October 8, 2020

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall MD – Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine
Kirtly Jones MD – Obstetrics and Gynecology

Current as of: October 8, 2020

Author:
Healthwise Staff

Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD – Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD – Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones MD – Obstetrics and Gynecology

Tips for Relieving Clogged Milk Ducts & Mastitis

About Mastitis

Mastitis is another name for a breast infection. It will usually appear as a painful, hard, wedge-shaped red area on the breast, accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms. Mastitis isn’t as common as a blocked milk duct, but up to a fifth of breastfeeding moms may experience it at some point.

Mastitis is most common in the first few weeks postpartum, and often follows engorgement, but it can happen at any time. Being overtired, smoking, and having cracked nipples can put you at higher risk for mastitis. When skin is broken, germs from the environment, your skin, or your baby’s mouth can penetrate the breast, leading to the bacterial infection in your breast tissue.

If you have symptoms of mastitis, seek medical treatment immediately. Symptoms to pay careful attention to include:

  • Intense, localized pain in a specific area of the breast.
  • Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Flu-like symptoms.
  • The presence of a reddened (often wedge-shaped) area on the breast.

In addition to mastitis treatment from a healthcare professional, experts recommend that you “heat, rest, and empty breast”:

  • Use a warm compress before nursing or pumping.
  • Get extra rest and sleep to help the healing process.
  • Continue pumping or breastfeeding. Emptying the breast reduces inflammation, and stopping milk expression could lead to complications like a breast abscess.

Breastfeeding isn’t always easy, but nothing that incredible ever is. As a mom, you will choose to make sacrifices every day for the better of your child and family. And while you can’t predict every challenge you will face, being prepared with what to expect and how to react is the first step in getting through any tough situation. Remember, if you are ever in need of personalized breastfeeding advice, you can reach out to our on-staff Lactation Consultant, sign up for a 24/7 LC membership for around-the-clock lactation support, or download the Medela Family app. We’re here to help!

90,000 Mastopathy – symptoms, treatment, prevention

The main / Mastopathy – symptoms, treatment, prevention

Mastopathy is a disease of the breast. Suffers from mastopathy according to statistics from 30 to 60% of women of fertile age. And after reaching the age of 40, this disease can be found in half of women. It is a proven fact that oncological formations subsequently occur up to 5 times more often in women suffering from mastopathy.

Causes of mastopathy

The main reason for the formation of mastopathy is a violation of the hormonal background, in particular, the malfunctioning of estrogens – these are female hormones.

For what reasons, a normal, healthy balance of estrogen is not maintained in a woman’s body? This is an unhealthy lifestyle, smoking and alcohol, overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, insufficient physical activity, abortion, hormonal contraceptives … All these factors lead to the fact that the woman’s body begins to work incorrectly, hyperplastic processes can occur in the mammary glands.

The first symptoms are chest pain that occurs a few days before the onset of menstruation.The mammary glands seem to swell, and even burn. Usually, these sensations go away with the onset of critical days. These symptoms can be combined with a name such as mastodynia. It is with such symptoms that you need to take action and immediately consult a doctor, if this is not done, then over time, chest pain begins to intensify, and arises not only against the background of menstruation. Pain can be felt in the armpits, and in the shoulders, and in the arms. These are signs that the process of formation of benign growth (compaction) has already begun in the mammary gland.This is already mastopathy.

Types of mastopathy

  • Nodular – that is, a single node in the gland, or fibrosclerosis
  • Diffuse – multiple nodules and fibrosis

The structure of the nodes can be divided into fibrous, glandular, cystic or mixed forms.

In what cases is it necessary to immediately sound the alarm and run to the doctor?

  • If the skin on the chest suddenly begins to peel or redden
  • If discharge of unknown origin appears from the nipple, possibly bloody
  • If chest pain is felt and swelling is observed
  • If a firmness is felt in the chest
  • If the shape of the nipple has changed (deformed)

The doctor will order an examination to identify the cause of the changes and make the correct diagnosis.

Treatment of mastopathy

  • Diffuse mastopathy is subject to conservative treatment. Here, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes of this disease, to establish hormonal levels, to monitor the functional work of the pituitary gland and ovaries, as well as the function of the liver and nervous system.
  • Nodular mastopathy is treated already with the help of surgical intervention, that is, removing the nodes from the breast tissue. Immunotherapy measures are also taken here to prevent the recurrence of nodes.In recent years, surgical treatment has become not so popular, since many patients, after several operations, have nodules again. Such patients are under constant observation and supportive conservative therapy.

Prevention of mastopathy

Preventive measures to prevent mastopathy include a healthy lifestyle, constant control over the work of the thyroid and pancreas, immunity, inflammation and infections of the genital tract, protection from unwanted pregnancies in order to avoid abortion, and prevent injury to the mammary glands.Proper nutrition is also very important, you should try to avoid a lot of sweet, spicy and fatty foods.

Those women whose mothers or grandmothers have had breast diseases should be especially careful to monitor their health, conduct self-examination regularly, conduct an ultrasound of the mammary glands at least once a year and, of course, regularly visit doctors, in particular a gynecologist, who will refer you to a mammologist if there is any evidence for that.

Compliance with these simple rules will help every woman and girl to stay healthy and not to miss the disease, if it suddenly arises, at a very early stage.

Perhaps, after reading this article, many women will begin to be more attentive to their health in order to prolong their youth and beauty as long as possible.

Deformation of the mammary gland, retraction of the nipple

11/01/2021

The article was checked by a doctor-mammologist of the highest category, Ph.D. Zorina E.Yu. is for general informational purposes only and does not replace specialist advice.
For recommendations on diagnosis and treatment, a doctor’s consultation is required.

Specialists of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza carry out an accurate diagnosis of the causes of breast deformity and nipple retraction using mammography (digital X-ray, MRI), ductography, ultrasound, biopsy, laboratory tests. We prescribe effective conservative and surgical treatment of the underlying disease according to individually developed schemes.

Deformation of the mammary gland and retraction of the nipple can be both congenital features and indicate the development of a pathological process, including breast cancer.

Causes of deformation of the mammary gland, retraction of the nipple

Fibroadenoma of the breast

Fibroadenoma of the breast is one of the most common benign breast tumors. This is a rounded nodular formation, limited from the surrounding tissues. Leafy fibroadenoma can lead to significant deformation of the breast. The tumor develops rapidly and reaches a large size – up to 20 cm in diameter, causing a change in skin color.

Lipomas

Lipoma is a benign breast tumor of non-epithelial origin. These are soft, lobed formations, sometimes painful. Lipomas can be located above the gland or have a deep localization, significantly deforming the breast.

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in women. In the later stages, it is externally manifested by wrinkling of the skin over the tumor, discoloration of the skin, deformation of the mammary gland, retraction of the nipple.Men most often suffer from a scirrhoidal form of cancer (fibrous, dense, from stromal cells), which also leads to deformation of the mammary gland.

Breast damage

The most common traumatic injuries are bruises and burns.

Bruises cause bruising. A deeply located hematoma can cause the development of pseudocysts, suppuration, limited fatty necrosis, lipogranulomas, scarring.Thus, there is a deformation of the mammary gland, retraction of the skin, and can even cause cancer.

Burns of the mammary glands – the cause of necrosis of the glandular tissue, scarring and deformation of the breast.

Breast tuberculosis

Tuberculosis bacteria can enter the mammary glands through the milk ducts, through the lymphatic tract, hematogenous (through the blood). If, in tuberculosis, the development of connective tissue dominates in the mammary gland, there is a thickening and deformation of the breast, retraction of the nipple, fistulas and ulcerations may appear.

Actinomycosis of the breast

This is a rare fungal disease. Small nodules appear in the mammary gland, from which an infiltrate is formed, fistulas and ulcers are formed. At a late stage of the development of the disease, tissue sclerosis occurs, which leads to deformation of the mammary gland.

Breast cysts

A breast cyst is a pathological cavity with liquid contents.If untreated, the cyst can become large. Large cysts lead to deformation of the breast.

Congenital deformities of the mammary gland

Breast deformities can be congenital. You can name aplasia (lack of glandular tissue), hypoplasia (insufficient formation and development). In addition, congenital retraction of the nipple occurs.

Diagnostics of the causes of breast deformity, nipple retraction

  • Consultation with a mammologist. The mammologist of the Clinical Hospital on Yauza will conduct a visual examination of the mammary gland, palpation, ask the patient about the symptoms, history of the development of the disease, etc., decide whether to consult other specialists of our clinic.
  • 2. Instrumental studies:
    • Ultrasound of the mammary glands;
    • ductography;
    • digital and MR mammography.
  • Laboratory research:
    • biopsy of breast tissue with histological examination;
    • cytological examination of a smear of discharge from the breast;
    • study of hormonal levels;
    • genetic research (risk of developing breast cancer).
  • 4. Drawing up an individual treatment program.

Treatment of breast deformity, nipple retraction

The treatment program depends on the cause of the identified breast deformity and nipple retraction. The main thing when pathological symptoms appear is to immediately contact a mammologist who will conduct an examination, determine the scheme of examination and subsequent treatment.

We have all the capabilities for early diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of breast diseases at the modern level.

Cost of services

You can see the prices for services in the price list or check the phone number indicated on the website.

Literature:

  1. Kulikov E.P. Non-palpable breast tumors // GEOTAR-Media. 2015.

  2. Souhami R.L. Cancer and its treatment: a guide // BINOM. Knowledge laboratory. 2017.

90,000 What is breast swelling? | Breast swelling

Some mothers are faced with swelling of the mammary glands, when milk begins to flow in the first days after childbirth. Usually this phenomenon is temporary and can be easily eliminated. Read our article to find out how to help yourself.

Share this information

Sioned Hilton, health visitor, neonatal nurse and lactation consultant:
Mom of three Sioned has been supporting families with newborns and young children for over 30 years.She provides advice on breastfeeding and pumping, both in the clinic and at home. In addition, Schauned writes articles for parenting magazines, participates in conferences and conducts seminars for treating physicians.

When you start breastfeeding, you first produce a small amount of colostrum, which gradually builds up over the first few days. After about two to four days, production increases significantly. This phenomenon is called the “arrival” of milk. 1

One of the signs that milk is starting to arrive is a change in the breast – it fills and becomes firm.This is due not only to an increase in the amount of milk, but also to an increased flow of blood and additional lymphatic fluid to the breast tissue. 2

If the child eats well and often, then for most mothers this feeling of heaviness disappears over time without any complications. However, some women produce so much milk that their breasts become full and painful and very hard. This condition is called breast swelling. And although usually in a day or two everything goes away, this period can be quite painful.

How is the swelling of the mammary glands manifested?

The swelling may affect one or both breasts. It can cause swelling, sometimes down to the armpits, and a throbbing sensation. The chest becomes rather hot, sometimes lumps are felt in it. All this is due to the fact that a huge number of processes are going on inside. You may notice other symptoms as well, such as the skin on your breasts shining and tightening, and your nipples becoming hard and flat. Swelling of the breasts can even cause fever to rise to 37.5–38.3 ° C (99–101 ° F). 3

In addition to painful sensations, swelling of the mammary glands is also dangerous because it can make breastfeeding difficult, and this, in turn, will further worsen the situation. If the baby finds it difficult to latch on to the breast because the nipples are flat and the breast tissue is harder, nipple inflammation may develop. In addition, in the event of a poor grip, he will not be able to completely empty the chest. Thus, if not treated properly, breast swelling can lead to blocked milk ducts, mastitis, and decreased milk production.

What causes swelling of the mammary glands?

Usually, swelling of the mammary glands occurs due to the fact that the child does not eat often enough (less than eight times a day). In principle, this can happen to any mother, but women who have undergone various breast surgeries, including breast augmentation, are more susceptible to breast swelling. 2 Wearing the wrong bra or clothing that is too tight can increase discomfort and lead to blocked milk ducts and even mastitis.

Swelling of the mammary glands can occur in both nursing mothers and mothers who do not feed or cannot breastfeed. The hormonal changes that occur after the baby is born and the placenta leaves the placenta and that increase milk production are independent of whether you are breastfeeding or not. Swelling can also occur if the number of feeds is drastically reduced, such as when the baby is sick, sleeps longer, starts eating solid foods, or goes to a nursery.

How to treat swelling of the mammary glands?

2

The best medicine for swollen breasts is a hungry baby! Try to empty your breasts as often and as often as possible to facilitate milk flow.To do this, feed your baby on demand, preferably eight to twelve times a day.

Maintain skin-to-skin contact with your baby, press him to your chest as often as possible during the day, and at night when you are awake. This will allow him to smell the delicious scent of your milk and have easy access to his breast, and you can better monitor for signs that he is hungry and therefore feed more often. Let your baby eat from one breast before offering the other.

It will not be superfluous to contact a consultant or breastfeeding specialist to check the correct grip and position of the baby. It depends on how well he feeds and empties the breast. The tips below will also help you relieve the symptoms of breast swelling.

Tips for relieving symptoms of swollen breasts 2

  • Breastfeed your baby at least eight times a day.
  • Make sure your baby has a good grip.
  • Try different feeding positions.
  • Gently massage your breasts during breastfeeding to help milk flow.
  • Express some milk by hand or with a breast pump before feeding to soften the nipple and make it easier for your baby to latch on.
  • If your breasts remain firm and full after feeding, pump more until you feel relief.
  • If your baby is unable to breastfeed, express milk for him. Continue pumping until the breast becomes softer, and do this at least eight times a day.
  • Try the pressure softening technique. This helps to remove excess fluid from the breast. A breastfeeding counselor or specialist will show you how to do this.
  • If milk is leaking, try taking a warm shower or placing a flannel cloth soaked in warm water on your breast just before breastfeeding or pumping to soften your breasts and make it easier for you to milk. However, you should not warm your chest for more than two minutes, as this can only increase the swelling.
  • If milk does not leak, try applying cold compresses, chilled gel pads, or even frozen green peas wrapped in a towel for ten minutes after feeding to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
  • Place clean cabbage leaves in your bra. Yes Yes! For many mums, it does help reduce swelling and discomfort, and there are scientific explanations for this. 4
  • Drink an anti-inflammatory pain reliever.Certain medications can be taken while breastfeeding, if agreed with your doctor. Always consult with your doctor, follow the directions of the drug manufacturer and the recommendations of your pharmacist. To learn more about medications and breastfeeding, read our article on breastfeeding while sick.
  • Wear an appropriately sized and comfortable nursing bra, and avoid underwire or no bras at all.
  • Do not skip feeds or stop breastfeeding abruptly, as this may increase breast swelling.

Seek help from your doctor if your temperature rises 5 above 38 ° C or if your baby is unable to suckle due to swelling.

And try to stay calm anyway. Your body is just getting used to making milk and feeding your baby. Breast swelling should go away on its own shortly once you both have mastered breastfeeding.

Literature

Literature

1 Pang WW, Hartmann PE.Initiation of human lactation: secretory differentiation and secretory activation. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2007; 12 (4): 211-221. – Pang U. U., Hartmann PI, “Initiation of lactation in a nursing mother: secretory differentiation and secretory activation.” F Mammari Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2007; 12 (4): 211-221.

2 Berens P, Brodribb W. ABM Clinical Protocol # 20: Engorgement, Revised 2016. Breastfeed Med .2016; 11 (4): 159-163. – Behrens P., Brodrhibb U. AVM Clinical Protocol # 20: Engorgement, 2016 revision. Brestfeed Med (Breastfeeding Medicine). 2016; 11 (4): 159-163.

3 Affronti M et al . Low-grade fever: how to distinguish organic from non-organic forms. Int J Clin Pract. 2010; 64 (3): 316-321. – Affronty M. et al., “Subfebrile temperature: how to distinguish organic from non-organic cases.” Int Zh Wedge Pract. 2010; 64 (3): 316-321.

4 Boi B et al. The effectiveness of cabbage leaf application (treatment) on pain and hardness in breast engorgement and its effect on the duration of breastfeeding. JBI Libr Syst Rev . 2012; 10 (20): 1185-1213. – Boi B. et al., “The effectiveness of the use of cabbage leaf (as a medicine) for pain and engorgement of the breast, as well as its effect on the duration of breastfeeding.” ZhBAi Libr Syst Rev. 2012; 10 (20): 1185-1213.

5 NHS Choices. How do I take someone’s temperature? [Internet]. UK: NHS Choices; updated 2016 June 29. Available from : www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1065.aspx?categoryid=72 – National Health Service choice. “How to measure the temperature?” [Internet]. United Kingdom: National Health Service Choice, revised June 29, 2016.Article referenced: www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1065.aspx?categoryid=72

Stress factors as the reason for the development of mastopathy

Our ancient ancestors – wild animals – were forced to lead an active lifestyle: to hunt for prey, to escape from enemies. Such actions require the body to mobilize all resources: you will not catch up with the prey, you will die of hunger, you will not run away from a predator, you will be eaten. Therefore, organs that are not involved in active movements – the intestines, liver, kidneys, and, of course, the mammary glands – receive less blood during active actions: less oxygen, fewer nutrients in order to give as much resources as possible to working muscles.

Times have changed, and threats to well-being have also changed: a wild animal or natural disasters become less and less a signal of danger, and more and more often the signal of danger is waiting for an exam, relations with bosses and colleagues at work, the economic crisis in the country, family relations … millions of years of evolution to the fact that after the danger it will be necessary to run quickly, passes into a state of stress – a state of readiness for maximum physical activity: reserves of glucose and insulin are released into the blood, respiration and heartbeat are accelerated, blood pressure rises, the vessels of the intestines and other “minor” organs – everything so that more blood, rich in glucose and oxygen, can be delivered to the working muscles.

Along with other organs “secondary” for survival, under stress, the mammary gland begins to receive less blood, and therefore less oxygen. Meanwhile, like all glands, the mammary gland is very sensitive to oxygen deficiency. With prolonged stress, oxygen starvation of glandular cells increases, and over time, these cells begin to be replaced by fibrous cells, which tolerate oxygen deficiency much better, but … are not able to produce milk, and, worse, a dense structure.Dense fibrous formations, which look like “cords” on ultrasound, deform and squeeze the glandular lobules: this is called diffuse fibrous mastopathy.

Every modern person, especially residents of big cities, needs to think about themselves, learn to cope with stress. Diffuse fibrous mastopathy, especially if this disease occurs in young women who have not given birth, is another “bell” about trouble, another warning about the need to change your lifestyle, learn to manage your emotions.

In about 15% of cases, severe stress precedes onset. These traumatic moments ultimately lead to depletion of the nervous system and depression (especially during periods of solar hunger), and depression is also one of the triggering moments of dyshormonal disorders and, therefore, is also the cause of the development of mastopathy.

Thus, early manifestations of mastopathy:

  • pain in the mammary glands accompanying the second half of the menstrual cycle, with the transition to the period of menstruation;
  • a feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the mammary glands;
  • engorgement and enlargement of the mammary glands, especially before the onset of menstruation;
  • irritability, anxiety, depression.

Meanwhile, the world of causation is a wonderful world full of surprises. For example, it turns out that mastopathy may be associated with sex. The bonds of sex and mastopathy are not an invention of irrepressible newspapermen, for the works of many domestic and foreign scientists have proven that with a harmonious sexual life, the risk of developing mastopathy is significantly reduced, and in the absence of it, it skyrockets. The explanation is simple: sex, which brings pleasure, normalizes hormonal metabolism, and, moreover, “makes you happy” in the truest sense of the word, since orgasm is accompanied by a powerful release of endorphins, hormones of happiness.Poor sex and sexual dissatisfaction are stressful and not weak. A stress reaction, including on an erotic basis, mobilizes an army of other hormones, stress hormones, which are the very “enemy number one” that provokes the development of mastopathy. Stress is one of the four factors affecting the health of a woman’s breasts. The other three are diseases of the liver, thyroid gland and pelvic organs (uterus, ovaries).

First of all, the stress reaction in bed is caused, of course, by a well-founded dissatisfaction with the fact that a logical outcome has not come.Plus, just as legitimate resentment against the incompetent partner, both swallowed and voiced. But not only. Let women rarely think about it, but the fact remains: sex directly affects their self-esteem. The quality of sex is a kind of assessment of female sexual importance, it is the point that a man gives them for the way they serve themselves sexually. And it is such a feminine nature that, in the end, they tend to take the blame for problems in bed on themselves, tend to perceive them as their own inferiority.And in vain, because by doing so they harm themselves. If missteps in the bedroom occur with enviable regularity, a powerful stress syndrome develops, leading to an increased production of stress hormones. Their effect on the female breast can be briefly summarized as follows: when there are a lot of stress hormones, they disrupt the ratio of the main hormones that affect the mammary gland. Estrogens begin to dominate over progesterone. The body’s reaction to this lurch is peculiar: in order to somehow maintain balance, glandular tissue is urgently produced in the chest.

As you know, any emergency products do not shine with quality. As a result, the pressure builds up, the chest swells, seals or nodular formations appear in it. So much for mastopathy.

In general, the conclusion suggests itself: all diseases are from the nerves. Mastopathy is often generally referred to as a “hysterical tumor”. Traditionally, it is believed that mastopathy, like cellulite, is an exclusively female disease. It turns out that this is not the case. In the USA, for example, about a thousand men a year are diagnosed with mastopathy.But there is no convincing data on the relationship between male mastopathy and sex.

Of course, iron ladies – with iron nerves and iron health – exist in nature, but there are so few of them that they are included in the Red Book of human individuals. Most of the women are far from superwomen, capable of, as they say, “chew and spit out,” but you can approach them by taking yourself into an iron fist and giving yourself an iron word to take care of yourself in a timely manner and in full. And this means – in a complex way, because treating one thing is like filling a hole in a dam, which will break through anyway.

Who is most at risk of developing mastopathy?

Environmental and lifestyle factors. Mastopathy develops more often in urban women, in women with higher education, in intellectual workers, in women whose work is associated with nervous overload.

The risk of developing mastopathy increases with chronic lack of sleep, with such dietary habits as excessive intake of fats, calories, animal proteins, insufficient intake of vegetables and fruits, dietary fiber.

So, is more likely to get sick if a woman:

  • has not given birth or has one child;
  • has a burdened heredity;
  • did not breastfeed or did not breastfeed a child for a long time;
  • 90,017 had many abortions;

  • does not have a regular sex life;
  • prone to stress;
  • lives in poor environmental conditions;
  • suffers from obesity, diabetes, diseases of the appendages, thyroid gland, liver;
  • drinks alcohol, smokes;
  • suffered even minor chest injuries.

It is, alas, impossible to get rid of mastopathy once and for all, but you can maintain it in an acceptable form. Prevention or treatment of mastopathy, in addition to local remedies and procedures prescribed by a doctor, will require serious attention to:

  • other foci of inflammation in the body;
  • “nerves” and their psychological state;
  • quality of sex.

If what a woman is currently experiencing in bed does not suit her for some reason, the situation needs to be changed radically, and immediately.Here, as you might guess, there can be no template solutions.

Factors that reduce depression (M. Argyll, 1990)

  • Laughter.
  • Relaxation.
  • Thinking about something good that might happen in the future.
  • Observing a beautiful landscape.
  • Ability to breathe fresh air.
  • Stay in a state of peace and tranquility.
  • The ability to sunbathe.
  • Feeling of clean clothes.
  • Availability of free time.
  • Good night sleep.
  • Listening to your favorite music.
  • Smile.
  • Belief in the well-being of family, children, friends.
  • Feeling the presence of God in life.
  • Observing wild animals or being surrounded by pets.

How to achieve happiness? (James Montier, Makarov V.V., 2013)

  • Enjoy all your achievements, both planned and unexpected.
  • Realize your full potential.
  • To often answer oneself the question: what do I want in life?
  • Constantly expand the space of happiness and love in your life (family, children, animals, plants, summer cottage, etc.).
  • Spend more time in direct contact with loved ones.
  • To see new opportunities in failures.
  • Do what you love that stimulates development.
  • Be open and allow closeness to yourself and other people.
  • Use positive reflection and avoid negative reflection.
  • Sleep as much as the body needs.
  • Periodically allow yourself to eat well.
  • Exercise regularly to help conserve energy.
  • Having sex, preferably with those you love.

All these rules must be remembered and followed!

90,000 Doctors warn older women about the risk of breast cancer

Photo author, AP

Photo caption,

England do not know how to detect early signs of breast cancer, the survey found.

Less than half of the surveyed women over the age of 70 were able to name any other symptoms of the disease in addition to induration.

Public Health England, which conducted the survey, reported that older women were more likely to delay seeing a doctor.

Every third woman diagnosed with breast cancer is in the over 70 age group.

Public Health England encourages older women to see a doctor immediately as soon as they notice a change in the mammary gland, be it a lump or change in the nipple, skin or breast shape.

Agency employee Jenny Harris said: “We want women over 70 to be aware of the condition of their breasts and to be able to recognize any changes, report new symptoms.”

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Older women are encouraged to see a doctor as soon as they notice changes in the mammary gland

According to statistics, 9500 women die from breast cancer every year. Of these, 5,400 are over 70 years old.

“Our campaign has highlighted two important little-known facts: breast cancer is not limited to lumps, and older women are at greatest risk,” said Sarah Heom of Cancer Research.

“Early diagnosis, regardless of age, allows for better treatment of this disease,” she added.

The survey was conducted in England among women over 40 years old.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in England. Every year, it is detected in about 41 thousand women.

Gynecomastia treatment – removal of gynecomastia in Kiev, gynecomastia in men treatment in the clinic

Reasons for the development of pathology

A man’s chest is an undeveloped organ, which consists of fat, the glandular tissue should not be determined normally. The development of the mammary glands is determined by the hormones estrogen and prolactin.If estrogens prevail in the body, then the tissues become less sensitive to testosterone and begin to grow in a female pattern.

Among other concomitant factors that can create a “favorable” soil for the onset of pathology: metabolic disorders, frequent exposure to stress, unhealthy diet, cardiovascular failure, alcohol and drug abuse, intoxication of the body, uncontrolled intake of pharmacological drugs, steroids.Quite often, gynecomastia occurs in athletes taking drugs to increase muscle mass.

Symptoms of the disease

  • Increase in the size of one or two breasts by 4-10 sentiments, heavier breasts by 100-150 g.
  • Expansion of the areola diameter to 2.5-3 cm, increased pigmentation, release of a small amount of milk-like secretion from nipples (rare).
  • The appearance of an elastic, painful, movable seal under the nipple in a man with an indistinct contour or a dense painless mass with smooth contours.
  • Increased sensitivity of the nipples in the absence of painful sensations in the tissues of the mammary glands.
  • Lemon peel skin changes, itching, burning and retraction of the nipple (infrequent).

Make an appointment with a mammologist

Globally, the disease is divided into two types: true and false.

False gynecomastia is an increase in breast volume caused by excess adipose tissue in the chest area. It mainly occurs against the background of obesity or after a sharp weight loss.It occurs in almost all overweight men and is not dangerous. Excess adipose tissue can be removed by liposuction.

True gynecomastia can be physiological and pathological.

Diagnosis of the disease

In our center, diagnostics for suspected gynecomastia in men includes a mandatory clinical examination by a mammologist. You can get an exhaustive picture:

  1. Interviewing the patient with a request to describe in as much detail as possible his own feelings and complaints of discomfort.
  2. External visual examination of the breast with palpation, study of the state of other organs, changes in which can be detected without the use of medical equipment.
  3. A detailed biochemical blood test, on the basis of which it will be possible to speak about the presence or absence of hormonal imbalance.
  4. Ultrasound or mammography, which allows you to assess the structure of tissues, to identify the cause of the degree of their growth.
  5. Cytological examination, the results of which will allow to make an accurate diagnosis and make sure that the formation is benign.

In addition, you may need to consult a urologist, endocrinologist or therapist. The fact is that gynecomastia can be a secondary manifestation of cirrhosis of the liver, chronic hepatitis, thyroid disease, tumors of the testicles, liver, lungs, etc.

Treatment of gynecomastia in men

If gynecomastia is caused by adolescent hormonal imbalance, it often goes away on its own. But if conservative treatment does not work, patients over 18 years of age are advised to consult a mammologist and, possibly, a surgeon.

Competent complex treatment of gynecomastia includes solving metabolic problems with vitamin therapy, hepatoprotectors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and antiestrogenic drugs. In practice, this means excluding chips, chocolate, coffee, hot spices and dishes, ketchup, mayonnaise, soda, beer from the diet. To relieve pain, an ointment for gynecomastia is prescribed.

If necessary, the physical defect can be corrected surgically.The cost of an operation to remove gynecomastia in men depends on its type (unilateral or bilateral). The procedure lasts 1-1.5 hours, after 2-3 hours the patient can leave the clinic. The bandage must be worn for 2 weeks.

Gynecomastia in men is quite common today. At the slightest suspicion, we suggest that you undergo an examination at the Specialized Breast Center (Kiev). The clinic employs mammologists who have more than 10 years of experience in diagnosing and treating even the most severe breast diseases.If necessary, an experienced doctor will be able to remove gynecomastia at affordable prices.

Nipple cancer – Paget cancer

Because Paget’s cancer is a non-invasive tumor, with proper treatment, 99% of patients recover completely. If there is no invasive tumor in the mammary gland, chemotherapy is not given.

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In this case, the quality of life of patients directly depends on the results of surgical treatment, to which very high demands are made today.Modern technologies of oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery make it possible to achieve not only a radical oncological cure, but also an excellent aesthetic result, which is an integral part of the effectiveness of therapy.

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Paget’s disease is one of the variants of breast tumors. This is a rather rare, separate form of oncology – cancer of the nipple and / or areola of the breast.Today the disease has been sufficiently studied, diagnosed and treated. The name is associated with the name of a surgeon from England, James Paget, who first examined nipple cancer. The formation arises in the ducts, but is localized inside the nipple. The tumor is non-invasive, i.e. does not give metastases. In most cases, nipple cancer affects one gland. Most often, the development of this type of cancer is susceptible to women in the age range of 50-60 years, sometimes Paget’s cancer is diagnosed in men. As a rule, in men, nipple cancer has an aggressive course.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis is usually based on physical examination. At the same time, erosion is noticeable in the nipple area, which does not hurt. In such a situation, the doctor must prescribe a biopsy. A biopsy includes taking a section of skin from the nipple for analysis (always with the ducts of the gland). The manipulation is easily tolerated, a biopsy is performed under local anesthesia, and a fragment of skin several millimeters thick is taken.If Paget’s disease is confirmed, an additional examination is prescribed. The Paget tumor itself is not life threatening, but it is necessary to find out what is happening in the entire mammary gland. According to the medical literature, a nipple neoplasm can be combined with various tumor foci in other parts of the breast. Therefore, a woman with Paget’s disease is considered a patient with a breast tumor and undergoes all the necessary examinations: ultrasound, mammography or MRI of the mammary glands.

Treatment

Consultants of the LISOD Information Service will provide you with full information on the diagnosis and treatment of this type of cancer:

  • 0-800-500-110 (toll-free for calls to
    from landline telephones within Ukraine)
  • or +38 044 520 94 00 – daily
    from 08:00 to 20:00.

If, as a result of the studies, no other pathologies are found, the patient is offered either a mastectomy (complete removal of the gland from nipple areolar complex) with possible reconstruction of the mammary gland, or central lumpectomy (excision of a tumor within healthy tissues with one or another plastic option).When performing a mastectomy, a woman can avoid radiation therapy. In the case of breast preservation with Paget’s tumor, the patient is prescribed radiotherapy, as with other breast cancer. Radiation therapy reduces the risk of local recurrence by 15-20%. If the tumor is hormone-dependent, the woman is prescribed a course of anti-hormone therapy for five years.

If, after confirmation of Paget’s disease, additional tumor areas are found in the mammary gland, appropriate diagnostics are performed.If an invasive tumor is also found, the situation is considered standard in invasive breast cancer. In this case, the scope of research is expanding: staging of the disease is carried out, that is, the degree of tumor prevalence in the body is determined. Depending on the stage of the disease, specialists plan the amount of treatment.

Symptoms

  • Oncologist.Surgeon. Head of the Center for Contemporary Mammology

Early signs of nipple cancer are generally nonspecific and sometimes not cause for concern. It is necessary to be very attentive to any changes, pay attention to even slight redness or irritation of the skin, peeling in the nipple and areola.

Clinically, the disease manifests itself as an ulcer or erosion in the nipple area, which does not heal for a long time.The wound does not hurt, usually does not bother in any way, but it can leave marks on the laundry. If the ulcer does not heal for more than a week, this is an alarming symptom. A woman should see a doctor urgently.

Risk factors

Nipple cancer (Paget’s cancer) can be triggered by chronic injuries of the nipple and areola, nipple cracks, hereditary predisposition, exposure to carcinogens.

Questions and answers

The section publishes questions from patients and answers from our specialists. Each person’s question concerns a specific problem related to their illness. The patients are answered by Israeli clinical oncologists and the chief physician of LISOD, MD, professor Alla Vinnitskaya.

Experts’ answers are based on knowledge of the principles of evidence-based medicine and professional experience.The answers correspond exclusively to the information provided, are for informational purposes only and do not constitute a medical recommendation.

The main purpose of section
is to provide information to the patient and family in order to work with the treating physician to decide on the type of treatment. The proposed treatment tactics may differ from the principles stated in the answers of our specialists. Feel free to ask your doctor about the reasons for the differences. You need to make sure you are getting the right treatment.

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