For women who aren’t breastfeeding, the sight of bosom discharge can be alarming. But if you notice discharge from your bosom, there’s no reason to panic. While bosom discharge can be serious, in most cases, it’s either normal or due to a minor condition.
Still, if you are not nursing, you should contact your health care provider any time you notice chest discharge. Based upon your symptoms and the results of diagnostic tests, your doctor will decide on the best course of treatment.
What is normal and what is abnormal bosom discharge?
Bloody bosom discharge is never normal. Other signs of abnormality include bosom discharge from only one chest and discharge that occurs spontaneously without anything touching, stimulating, or irritating your chest.
Color isn’t usually helpful in deciding if the discharge is normal or abnormal. Both abnormal and normal bosom discharge can be clear, yellow, white, or green in color.
Normal bosom discharge more commonly occurs in both bosoms and is often released when the bosoms are compressed or squeezed. Some women who are concerned about chest secretions may actually cause it to worsen. They do this by repeatedly squeezing their bosoms to check for bosom discharge. In these instances, leaving the bosoms alone for a while may help the condition to improve.
Based on your medical evaluation, your doctor will determine whether your bosom discharge is normal (physiologic) or abnormal (pathologic). Even if your doctor determines your chest discharge is abnormal, keep in mind that most pathological conditions that cause bosom discharge are not serious and are easily treated.
What might cause normal bosom discharge?
Some causes of normal bosom discharge include:
Pregnancy. In the early stages of pregnancy, some women notice clear chest discharge coming from their bosoms. In the later stages of pregnancy, this discharge may take on a watery, milky appearance.
Stopping breastfeeding. Even after you have stopped nursing your baby, you may notice that a milk-like chest discharge persists for a while.
Stimulation. bosoms may secrete fluid when they are stimulated or squeezed. Normal bosom discharge may also occur when your bosoms are repeatedly chafed by your bra or during vigorous physical exercise, such as jogging.
What causes abnormal bosom discharge and can it be noncancerous?
A number of noncancerous conditions can cause bosom discharge.
If your initial medical evaluation indicates the discharge is abnormal, your doctor may ask for more tests. The tests will help determine the underlying condition that’s causing the problem and may include one or more of the following:
Laboratory analysis of the discharge
Blood tests
Mammogram and/or ultrasound of one or both br**sts
A brain scan
Surgical excision and analysis of one or more ducts in your bosom
Possible causes of abnormal discharge include:
Fibrocystic chest changes. Fibrocystic refers to the presence or development of fibrous tissue and cysts. Fibrocystic changes in your br**sts may cause lumps or thickenings in your chest tissue. They do not indicate, though, the presence of cancer. In addition to causing pain and itching, fibrocystic chest changes can, at times, cause secretion of clear, white, yellow, or green bosom discharge.
Galactorrhea. It might sound scary. But galactorrhea simply describes a condition in which a woman’s chest secretes milk or a milky bosom discharge even though she is not breastfeeding. Galactorrhea is not a disease and has many possible causes. These include:
Pituitary gland tumors
Certain medications, including some hormones and psychotropic drugs
Some herbs, such as anise and fennel
Hypothyroidism
Illegal drugs, including marijuana
Infection. bosom discharge that contains pus may indicate an infection in your chest. This is also known as mastitis. Mastitis is usually seen in women who are breastfeeding. But it can develop in women who are not lactating. If you have an infection or abscess in your chest, you may also notice that your chest is sore, red, or warm to the touch.
Mammary duct ectasia. This is the second most common cause of abnormal bosom discharge. It is typically seen in women who are approaching menopause. This condition results in inflammation and possible blockage of ducts located underneath the bosom. When this occurs, an infection may develop that results in thick, greenish bosom discharge.
Intraductal papilloma. These are noncancerous growths in the ducts of the chest. They are the most common reason women experience abnormal bosom discharge. When they become inflamed, intraductal papillomas may result in bosom discharge that contains blood or is sticky in texture.
What is the connection between bosom discharge and chest cancer?
Most bosom discharge is either normal or caused by a benign medical condition. There are instances, though, when discharge from the chest may be a symptom of some forms of chest cancer. This likelihood is greater if your bosom discharge is accompanied by a lump or mass within the chest or if you have had an abnormal mammogram.
One form of chest cancer that may cause chest discharge is intraductal carcinoma. This cancer develops within the ducts of the chest located beneath the bosom.
Another rare form of chest cancer that may result in bosom discharge is Paget’s disease. This condition develops in the ducts of the chest and then moves to the bosom. It may cause the bosom and the surrounding areola to bleed or ooze. Paget’s disease usually occurs with another form of chest cancer.
