Patient's question:
I have been pregnant for two years, and I stopped breastfeeding when my child was two months old. But until now, when I squeeze my breasts, there is still white milk leaking out. Is this normal? Is it cancer? Or is it not necessarily, but it doesn't rule out the possibility of cancer? What should I do? I heard that this situation is not optimistic. Please answer in detail! Thank you very much!!!!Doctor's answer:
During non-pregnancy and non-lactation periods, fluid leakage from the nipple is referred to as nipple discharge. Nipple discharge is one of the common symptoms of breast diseases. Statistics show that patients who visit clinics primarily due to nipple discharge account for 3% to 14% of breast disease cases, with its incidence rate ranking second only to breast lumps and breast pain. If the nipple discharge is from a single nipple, it is often associated with the following breast conditions:1. Dilatation of the breast ducts
2. Intraductal papilloma
3. Breast cystic hyperplasia
4. Breast cancer.
In summary, nipple discharge is an important breast symptom, with 10% to 15% of cases potentially being breast cancer. It is recommended that if symptoms appear, patients should seek medical attention promptly for a cytological examination of the discharge. Near-infrared breast scanning has a positive diagnostic rate of 80% to 95% for ductal lesions in the areola area. Ultrasound and mammography also offer comparable accuracy. Selective ductography is a commonly used diagnostic method for nipple discharge, providing significant value in differentiating between benign and malignant conditions. It can also help physicians accurately locate the surgical excision area.