any advice on persistent lump in breast?

I am so glad to finally have found some others with this same problem. I have five children, the youngest being 13 months old, still breastfeeding. I have not had problems with breast infections until my last child, a couple of bouts that went away on their own and then finally the last two that scared me due to the fever, pain chills etc that did not go away. I have also had a couple of rounds of antibiotics that have cleared up those symptoms but the large lump has increased in size. Although it is not really painful and does not really interfere with breastfeeding I am wondering is this something that is part of the infection that will take a long time to go away or is something that needs to be drained/taken out? Should I stop breastfeeding or can I continue? Has anybody had any experience with this lump actually going away or getting better? Minimal fear that it may actually be cancer but .....???  


This discussion is related to Persistent Mastitis Lump Not helped by Antibiotics, what else could it be?.

[BadarseBookworm]

Since you're breast feeding it's likely you've got a clogged milk duct (for more information: http://www.**********.com/0_plugged-milk-ducts_8494.bc).

If you're uncertain, the best thing you could do at the moment is to see if the lump changes in size and texture as time pass; keep track on how its properties are connected to your period and hormone levels in your body. If the lump hasn't disappeared, you should contact your doctor. :)

Most breast lumps are benign. :)

[allmymarbles]

At 13 months continuing breastfeeding is not all that important. The important thing is to treat your mastitis. This is much easier to do if you are not breastfeeding.