Granulomatous mastitis and breastfeeding

[Miriamkh]

Hello,
I was diagnosed with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis when I was 27 weeks pregnant. Now my baby is 4 months old. The prednisone I was on did help control the symptoms but not enough. I am considering going on azithioprene. Does anyone know if breastfeeding can make the symptoms/inflammation worse? Is there a connection between prolactin and this disease? I continue to develop abscesses on my skin and my breast is quite painful. I am breastfeeding my son and if there is a connection I would consider weaning him. It is so frustrating that there is not enough known about this disease.

M

[Cleveland Clinic]

Dear mariamkh, Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is a benign inflammatory breast disease of unknown origin that usually affects young women of childbearing age. Patients usually present with a progressive onset of a breast lump and there is no history of infection or trauma. The breast lump can be of variable size, is usually unilateral, firm, ill defined, and mildy tender. Sometimes an associated locally inflammatory reaction is present; nipple retraction is common. Enlargement of lymph nodes under the arm is common. It can be easily confused with malignant breast cancer and requires thorough pathology review as there have been cases of patients who were thought to have had a malignant disease that in some instances resulted in inappropriate radiotherapy and wide resection of breast tissue.

As this is a breast cancer forum our expertise regarding breast cancer.  You may want to consider seeing a breast specialist for advise regarding this condition.   These types of specialists are generally associated with large acedemic centers.