Weird lump in my breast--please offer opinions

[mommytsa]

I have had a weird lump growing in my right breast for the last 3 days.  It is rather deep in my breast, if you know what I mean, not right on the surface, but closer to my rib cage.  It is now roughly the size and shape of a ping pong ball cut in half.  It is very tender and sore.  I have had 2 plugged ducts in the past, but I have always been able to massage them away very quickly and they never got this big.  Those were also right on the surface, though.  You can't see anything (no redness, obvious swelling, etc), but even my husband could easily feel the lump I'm talking about.

A little further info, which may or may not be relevant--DS has been bf'ed for 15 months, never had any problems.  I have been cutting back on his feeds slowly over the last month or so because I start back to work again tomorrow and don't want to have to pump since he won't take a bottle at this point anyways.  I do not feel engorged, nor does feeding him off that breast seem to give me any relief.

I'm kind of getting freaked out here, and worrying about cancer (my grandmother died of breast cancer the month DS was conceived).  I know that in all reality, that's not the case, since it sprang up too quickly, but it's the only thing I can think of, since my symptoms don't really match with what I know of mastitis or my former experiences with plugged ducts.

Please give me ideas about what else this could be and what I can do to get some relief.  And some hugs and "don't freak out vibes" would be great too!   

Thanks.

[Samuel's mum]

BIG HUG

I'm off to give Sam a bath but here's a quicky. I would say in my opinion - cancer just does not grow that fast. It just doesn't. I'm betting it's bf related.

I've had blocked ducts that feel quite 'deep' and were just a lump without other symptoms. They did go away with a different feeding position (pointing baby's chin towards the lump) and massaging. I would really suggest you consider pumping as you don't want to be sore for work tomorrow when you wake up. If that doesn't shift it - I would see your doctor but I really don't think you should panic.

[stasztk]

Settle down! Don't freak out! Just calmy put hot compresses on it and talk to your dr.

[mommytsa]

Well, I did some hot compresses, and now the lump is gone.  I called the nurse today, and she said that if it went away it was probably no big deal.  It's still crazy sore, but at least the lump is gone.  It must have been a really really really plugged duct.  **Sigh** of relief.

Thank you for your support.

[stasztk]

GOOD!!! *sigh* of relief from me too! 

[clh]

Glad to hear it's gone.  It sounds just like a plugged duct I had a couple of weeks ago.  DS didn't feed well off that side for a couple of times running, and that's all it took.  I was sore for a little bit after the lump was gone, but that was it.  **Sigh** of relief for you here, too.

[mchoong]

I am so glad to see this post. I have something like that which seems to be taking over my right breast. The strange thing is it is not sore, just lumpy. Does that mean anything?

My LO is starting to sleep more through the night and I haven't been waking up to pump so I woke up Monday quite swollen because she hadn't fed. I also had a slight fever Monday and just felt achey all over.  I pumped, and fed her and it seemed better but there has been some noticeable residual lumps in the breast. Also, it doesnt' seem to produce as much since then. I've  been trying to put compresses on it but that is hard to do at work. I'll keep trying and hopefully have success.

[Messa]

Mchoong
It sounds like yo have a clogged duct as well.  And the flu like syptoms point to mastitus.  If you have ANY other flu like symptoms I would suggest calling your DR for antibiotics.  Do try to put compresses on it, and massage the lumps.  Also as PP point LO's chin towards the lumps if possible. HTH

[Hannah's Mom]

Mchoong, Melissa is totally right.  Watch for any redness on your breast as well.  Mastitis is not something you mess with--get to the dr right away!  I had it twice, however each time I had it I only had the redness.  (well, the first time I had just gone through labor/delivery AND had a cold, so I felt like I was hit by a truck anyway!)  Maybe it'd be good to check with your dr, just to be on the safe side?

Mommytsa, you might possibly have had a galactocele, which is a milk-filled cyst.  (I think I spelled it right?)  Sometimes pregnant or lactating women get them.  (If I understand it correctly, it could develop from a clogged milk duct?)

 I had a 1cm by 2cm lump near my nipple that my dr just thought was a clogged milk duct.  So....I did everything I could to get rid of it and then it absolutely hurt so bad I couldn't wear a bra for like two weeks!!!     Weeks and weeks later, it still hurt a little to the touch and felt a little differently by that point.  So, I had a core needle biopsy because an ultrasound of it looked unusual, and the drs wanted to make sure it wasn't something cancerous.  In the end, they decided it had just been a galactocele.  It had ruptured when I was trying to clear the blocked duct, causing pockets of inflamation, which is what had looked not-so-good on the ultrasound.

[mommytsa]

Hannah that had to be terrifying!  I'm glad it turned out ok.  I only had mine for a few days, and I was nervous wreck, I can't imagine WEEKS!

And Mchoong, it sounds like you're in a similiar situation to me.  Ds was cutting out day feeds rather than night, but I think it might just be a part of the dropping feeds process at times.  I was really full feeling too, sometimes, and now if I get engorged I TOTALLY feel that area coming back.  Maybe I've just got an overactive duct with a small/easily clogged opening right there?  I don't know.  Try putting hot compresses and massaging the lumps towards the nipple at the same time.  (like massage over a hot wet washcloth).  For me, that's what did it.  Of course, if it looks red, or your flu gets worse, go to the doctor!

[mchoong]

Thanks everyone. Thankfully the fever and aches went away the next day and I dont' have any redness so at least for now it's not mastitis. I will certainly keep an eye out for that.

I used the compress before each pump today at work and while the lumps arent' going away yet, the production was better. I'll keep trying. Is it better to use a damp compress - like the warm washcloth - or is just the heat what is important?

[Messa]

I Is it better to use a damp compress - like the warm washcloth - or is just the heat what is important?

Moist heat is best  Good luck!!

[mommytsa]

Personally I think the moist heat is best too.  If you can, try massaging the lump in the shower, with the hot water running right over the lumps.  I found that was the most comfortable way to do it.

[mchoong]

Success!  I took a hot shower and then put successive warm washclothes on it and massaged. While there are still lumps, I managed to work out a lot of the backed up milk (yuck!) and it feels much better. I am glad she didnt' really feed on that breast till I worked out most of the old milk because it looked pretty gross to me. After all that, she fed well. I will keep this up each day till the lumps are totally gone. Thanks for all the help.

[Messa]

Im glad it is working.  I do want to mention though if you get clogged ducts or mastitus you want to nurse on that side MORE often (contrary to what most think myself inculded ) because it helps clear the milk faster and it WILL NOT hurt LO they may not like it too much as it could taste saltier.