What is causing breast swelling, pain, and discharge of pus?

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on March 29, 2025
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Breast pain and hyperplasia are related, while purulent discharge might be caused by inflammation within the ducts. Usually, this can be diagnosed through ductoscopy. If it is inflammation, the lesions can be identified under ductoscopy, and then can be treated through washing with metronidazole and gentamicin, achieving a cure. However, there is a scenario where the issue is due to previously forcefully suppressing milk expulsion, leading to a large amount of milk residue in the ducts, causing purulent discharge. In this case, local heat application followed by massage and milk expulsion performed by a professional lactation masseuse can cure the condition. Regular follow-up with ultrasound and mammography of the breast is needed in the future. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

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Written by Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
1min 7sec home-news-image

Can breast swelling and pain be breast cancer?

The causes of breast pain are primarily divided into physiological and pathological breast pain. Physiological breast pain is often caused by changes in the body's hormones, wearing inappropriate underwear, too tight bras, miscarriage, or hormonal changes before menstruation. This type of breast pain has a certain regularity and recurs cyclically; careful observation can usually identify the cause and solution on its own. Pathological breast pain refers to pain caused by breast diseases. The nature of the pain is diverse and irregular, constituting non-cyclical pain. Diseases that can cause this type of breast pain include mastitis, fibrocystic breast changes, breast trauma, or breast cancer. However, early-stage breast cancer generally does not cause noticeable pain; pain associated with breast cancer typically occurs in the later stages when the cancer affects nerves. Therefore, if you experience breast pain, do not rush to conclusions. Whether it is physiological, pathological, or induced by other diseases requires a doctor's diagnosis.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
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What causes breast pain before menstruation?

In clinical practice, I often hear complaints from female friends that they experience breast tenderness before menstruation. What exactly is the cause of this? Mild breast tenderness may be due to hormonal changes in the body, which is a normal physiological condition. Of course, it could also be caused by diseases, such as the most common fibrocystic breast change, which is associated with cyclical breast pain during the menstrual cycle. There are also other diseases that can cause cyclical breast pain, and it is important to pay attention to them. Especially in cases of severe pain, or when even light touch causes significant discomfort, we recommend visiting a hospital for relevant examinations as soon as possible.

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Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What is the reason for breast pain during menstruation?

Menstrual breast pain is considered to be caused by two factors. First, the patient experiences breast pain during menstruation due to the stimulation of estrogen and progesterone secretion before the onset of menstruation. The pain symptoms may be more pronounced before menstruation and can be alleviated after menstruation. Second, if the patient's symptoms are severe, it is generally necessary to consider whether the pain is caused by mammary gland hyperplasia. Mammary gland hyperplasia can be caused by long-term staying up late, depression, and excessive stress. It is recommended that the patient undergoes a breast ultrasound to check for conditions like mammary ductal hyperplasia or fibroadenomas, and then receive targeted treatment.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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What should you not eat if you have breast pain?

Breast swelling and pain are mostly considered to be related to breast hyperplasia, and can be diagnosed through breast ultrasound or mammography. Therefore, patients with breast hyperplasia need to eat less food containing estrogen, as supplementing exogenous estrogen has been confirmed to increase the incidence of breast cancer, and it is also advised to reduce the intake of fatty and high-calorie diets. Most epidemiological studies confirm that weight gain is associated with breast cancer, especially weight gain after menopause should be paired with reduced alcohol consumption. Reports indicate that drinking may increase hormone levels in the body, leading to an increased risk of breast cancer in women. It is suggested to consume more foods rich in fiber and vitamins. Although the mechanism is not yet clear, fiber has been confirmed to have an inhibitory effect on both breast cancer and colorectal cancer, and research suggests that vitamin A also has a protective role in breast cells.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Do ectopic pregnancies cause breast tenderness?

Under normal circumstances, an ectopic pregnancy is also considered a type of pregnancy, and symptoms similar to early pregnancy reactions may appear, including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, or breast tenderness and obvious breast enlargement. However, the presence of breast tenderness does not necessarily indicate an ectopic pregnancy, as normal intrauterine pregnancy can also cause breast tenderness. Therefore, if pregnancy is suspected, it is advisable to undergo prompt medical examinations to determine whether it is an intrauterine or ectopic pregnancy.