Nipple discharge is common after childbearing. Usually a mother may still have milky discharge a few months after cessation of breast feeding, but sometime longer. Milky discharge may also be caused by hypothyroidsm or prolactin-producing
pituitary tumors, and certain medications (antipsychotics
and tricyclic antidepressants).
You should call your doctor or health care providers if you have spontaneous, clear, colored, sticky or bloody unilateral nipple discharge. Leis reported that in 503 patients operated on for one of these types of discharge, 67 (13.3%) had cancer, and 36 (7.2%) had a precancerous lesion. Among the 67 patients with cancer, eight (11.9%) had no palpable mass, 11 (16.4%) had negative cytology ("pap smear of the breast discharge"), and seven (10.4%) had a negative mammogram.
You could also get breast discharge when you stimulate your breast. It is usually less worrisome if the discharge stops when you stop the breast stimulation. However, do talk to your health care providers with any of your concern or finding.
Reference:
- Leis HP Jr, et al. Nipple discharge: surgical significance. South Med J. 1988;81(1):20.
- Sabel MS. Breast mass and other common problems. Uptodate November 2012.
You should call your doctor or health care providers if you have spontaneous, clear, colored, sticky or bloody unilateral nipple discharge. Leis reported that in 503 patients operated on for one of these types of discharge, 67 (13.3%) had cancer, and 36 (7.2%) had a precancerous lesion. Among the 67 patients with cancer, eight (11.9%) had no palpable mass, 11 (16.4%) had negative cytology ("pap smear of the breast discharge"), and seven (10.4%) had a negative mammogram.
You could also get breast discharge when you stimulate your breast. It is usually less worrisome if the discharge stops when you stop the breast stimulation. However, do talk to your health care providers with any of your concern or finding.
Reference:
- Leis HP Jr, et al. Nipple discharge: surgical significance. South Med J. 1988;81(1):20.
- Sabel MS. Breast mass and other common problems. Uptodate November 2012.
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