Patient's question:
I have developed mastitis and went to the hospital for intravenous medication to reduce inflammation. On the first day after the treatment, I sought help from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to wean off breastfeeding. Today is the 8th day after weaning, and my right breast has mostly returned to normal. However, my left breast still has lumps, and sometimes milk leaks out. What should I do in this situation? Should I express the milk from the breast with lumps, or should I use heat therapy?Doctor's answer:
If there are still lumps after weaning, it should be considered a condition called galactoceles. Galactoceles are also known as milk retention cysts or milk stasis syndrome. This condition occurs when a small lobe or duct in the breast during lactation becomes blocked for some reason, leading to poor milk drainage and retention within the ducts, causing them to expand and form cysts. There are many causes of galactoceles. During lactation, poor breastfeeding habits (irregular feeding times, incomplete milk emptying) can cause milk to stagnate in the ducts, leading to duct expansion and cyst formation. If bacteria invade and cause secondary infection, it may result in acute mastitis or breast abscess. Without bacterial invasion and infection, the cyst can persist in the breast for a long time. Further diagnosis can be performed through aspiration, where the extraction of milk from the cyst can confirm the diagnosis. Heat application and massage are unlikely to be effective. During aspiration, the milk within the cyst should be completely drained. If the cyst refills after emptying or if the cyst wall is calcified, surgical removal may be necessary. This condition is benign, and only simple cyst excision is required without the need for breast removal. Wishing you good health.