Is breast Peau d'orange always reason for concern?

[MmmMama1213]

I'm 32 and breastfeeding and being treated for mastitis without the Nurse Practioner ever looking at my breast. I had mastitis several times with my daughter and never once did I have the dimpling; I also always had a 101 fever with my mastitis. This started as a pea sized lump and I emailed the doctor's office. The nurse said it was likely a clogged duct, massage it. Now a little over a week later it's a half dollar size flat lump under my areola. It feels like a tough piece of rubber. I developed a peau d'orange appearance and bruising, no fever, just pain, I called the office and the nurse said just take antibiotics for 10 days. I guess I'm just wondering at what point I should request a mammogram or other screening? Just in case?

So sorry if this is the wrong place to ask. I didn't know if breastfeeding or this group was better for this question?

[zouzi]

You are welcome.
It's very possible that the infection this time is more severe, causing the symptoms you are experiencing.
Mastitis is common when women are breastfeeding ,but Inflammatory breast cancer is a very rare type of cancer that would usually present with rapid, unusual increase in breast size, redness, rash, persistent itching of breast or nipple, stabbing pain, feverish breast, swelling of lymph nodes under the arm or above the collarbone, nipple retraction etc...
As I mentioned beforehand the antibiotics should work but if things don’t get better, by all means consult a Breast Specialist for a clinical breast exam just to make sure okay?
All the best! :)

[zouzi]

Hi,
Mastitis is very common among breastfeeding mothers. Sometimes it takes more than two or three months to get rid of mastitis completely and often an additional course of antibiotics is needed.  In my opinion, the chances that the bruise, the lump and “peau d’orange” (which need not necessarily indicate breast cancer but can occur with skin and soft tissue infection) is related to cancer are really small. I would advise you to keep massaging the breast and take ALL the antibiotics for 10 days as recommended by the nurse. Most probably things will get better soon. If not, it would be a good idea to see a breast Specialist for a second opinion who will know for sure if further investigation is needed or not.
Best wishes and hoping that there is nothing there to worry about.

[MmmMama1213]

My reply got deleted when my app froze. Blah.

Thanks for your response! I appreciate it. Like I said, this experience is totally different than with my daughter. This is my first breast issue with my 7 week old son. I got concerned when all the deep holes appeared; especially since that never ever happened with mastitis from breastfeeding DD (she's 2.5 now). I didn't even know where to start for answers. Of course google doesn't help much. I'm on day 3 of antibiotics. Hopefully it gets better soon.