Breast problems

What breast problems can occur?

There are may different breast problems, including:

• Breast lumps.

• Breast pain and tenderness.

• Mastitis.

• Nipple discharge.

• Inverted nipples.

• Changes in the skin of the breast.

Nipple discharge is usually caused by benign disease (i.e. not breast cancer). Normal nipple discharge occurs during pregnancy and breastfeeding and may continue until up to one year after childbirth or the end of breastfeeding. Excessive breast stimulation can also cause nipple discharge.

Nipple discharge can be caused by certain gland (endocrine) problems such as a prolactinoma or if you're taking certain medicines (the combined oral contraceptive pill, cimetidine, antidepressants or metoclopramide).

Nipple discharge caused by an underlying breast problem (for example, breast cancer) is more likely to affect only one breast, the discharge may be bloodstained and there may also be an abnormal lump in the same breast.

An inverted nipple points into the breast instead of the normal shape of pointing outwards. Inverted nipples are often harmless with no serious underlying cause. Many women are born with nipples that naturally invert at times and then point outwards at other times. Sometimes the nipple may become inverted after breastfeeding.

If one or both nipples start to invert then it is very important to get it checked out but most cases are not due to anything serious.

The possible causes of inverted nipples include:

• Injury to the breast, or breast surgery.

• Breast cancer.

• Breast infections - for example, mastitis.

• Rapid and substantial loss of weight.

Skin problems can develop on or near the breast. There may be itching, scaling, dimpling, swelling, redness or other changes in skin colour. There is often no serious underlying breast problem but these skin changes may be caused by breast cancer so it's really important to get checked out straightaway in case there is a serious problem.