Breast lump - not blocked duct

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Hi everyone,

I have a beautiful five week old DD and I'm breastfeeding. About ten days ago I noticed an egg-sized lump in my breast. I've previously had a couple of blocked milk ducts that I've been able to easily get rid of with massaging, hot compresses, feeding/expressing etc. So I used the same techniques (with increasing firmness!) over the next few days, expecting the lump to loosen up and disperse, but it didn't even decrease in size.

I went to the doctor as I was worried about mastitis, she advised that she didn't know what the lump is and would refer me to the breast clinic. I was given antibiotics to take in the meantime, in case it's an infection of some sort.

Four days into the course of antibiotics and the lump is no smaller. I don't normally catastrophise but my mind has turned to more sinister explanations - especially since I've had four rounds of IVF, which has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer in older women (I'm 40).

I don't know how long it will take to get an appointment at the breast clinic, although I'm seeing the doc again on Tuesday so I can ask then.

Has anyone else experienced similar? What did the lump turn out to be? I know I shouldn't get ahead of myself but it would just be the cruellest twist of fate if there was something seriously wrong.

If you’ve been referred for a suspected breast cancer then the appointment will be under a two week wait. You should get your appointment through with a date within two weeks as you are over thirty with an unexplained lump.
Nobody can tell you what the lump will turn out to be but the overwhelming majority of people referred do not have cancer. Research in 1997 suggested that only 6.3% of all referrals had a malignancy.
There are many, many other reasons for lumps. Not all cancers are lumps when diagnosed. There can be cysts, infections, calcification of a duct, a pre-existing thickening/lump that has only appeared because your breast has changed due to feeding etc.
Waiting is the hard bit.

I had something similar and it was an abscess. It's an infection that can occasionally be caused by breastfeeding. Not pleasant, but not the end of the world. (Very painful after a few weeks, because my GP didn't know what it was and didn't refer me - but you have a referral so that's great.)

The breast unit confirmed with an ultrasound and drained it. Feeding was affected, but it's not going to cause permanent damage.

I hope yours turns out to be nothing serious though - good luck.

Hi @CherryPavlova - yep, totally know it's unlikely to be anything serious, I think it's just my irrational side feeling that we won the lottery with our precious little girl, but not trusting in fate/the universe/nature not to be incredibly cruel like it has been in the past! Honestly, my brain never usually goes straight to 'CANCER!' but I feel so uneasy right now.

@SundayMorningSun thank you for telling me about your experience; I really hope mine is an abscess too. Was it painful when you had it drained? How was feeding affected?

I had two lumps during/after breastfeeding. The GP told me they were what was known as a breast mouse! Smaller than you describe, maybe one was like an almond and the other like a walnut. Went away (eventually) of their own accord.

Of course important to be checked, but just wanted to share other possibilities.

Of course you feel uneasy. Having a much longed for child doesn’t mean you need to suffer in other ways though. Life isn’t usually like that. Hopefully you’ll be in the majority and it’s nothing of much concern.
You just have to go through the process, I’m afraid. It’s hard but the hardest bit really is the not knowing.

So, I had an undiagnosed abscess the size of basically my whole breast (over a pint of fluid) for over a month - unfortunately that meant my breast tissue was squished. The breast was so swollen that the baby couldn't latch and that side dried up.

HOWEVER that was a VERY extreme situation, and if you've got a referral you will avoid that. I've kept feeding on the other side (although now combi feeding, as eventually I found the one-boob thing a bit too challenging). It is very unlikely you'll be in this situation.

The draining didn't hurt - they gave me local anesthesia. I had to go back a couple of times. It was a bit gross and uncomfortable, but not painful.

Strangely, breast units seem to know very little about breastfeeding and lactation - mine had one nurse with a bit of knowledge, but none of the doctors could answer questions about the effect of an abscess on feeding. Just to warn you!