Discharge

Several months ago I noticed a greenish discharge from one breast.  I visited the doctor who said not to worry, it is just cysts and the other breast would do the same thing if I tried to express it.  When I got home I did just that, and the stuff that came out was clear on the other side.  The first side is now painful, but I'm not worried about that so much as the doom and gloom I read about clear sticky discharge.  The clear stuff only came out when expressed, sould that make it less alarming?  I'm rather embarassed to tell the doctor.  I'm 42 and my last mamogram (mammogram) was last year.  My maternal aunt and paternal grandmother died of breast cancer.  Thanks for any advice.

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Sew, Many women have some type of nipple discharge or fluid when their breasts are squeezed, and its normal. Squeezing the nipple sends message to the brain and the pituitary gland responds by increasing prolactin levels, which in turn produces discharge from the nipple.  The discharge can come in a variety of colors