The American Heaven, mother of Carson, 6 years old, and little Harlem, 2 months old, shared on TikTok a not so common surprise she had while breastfeeding: there was milk coming out of your armpit.
The situation generated astonishment on social networks, but also aroused the curiosity of many. In an interview with R7BP (Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo) gynecologist and obstetrician, Carolina Cunha explains that, possibly, the case is an accessory breast, or polymastia, as it is also known.
“This case is very characteristic of a breast tissue regression failure. So, in the embryonic period, it [mama] it does not regress and what we call an accessory breast remains. It’s like another breast, only out of the breast’s place”, says the specialist.
According to Carolina, this breast has characteristics that are extremely similar to a “normal” breast – in the right place –, such as the ability to produce milk. The “hole” in the armpit, where the liquid comes out, is a mammary duct.
The picture is more common in the armpit, but it can also occur in the abdominal and pelvic regions.
“The prevalence is 0.1 to 1% in the population. Theoretically it can occur in any woman, but in practice it is not so common”, adds the gynecologist.
The milk that comes out of the region is the same produced by the “normal” breasts, that is, it can be ingested by the baby, but it is not recommended by the place that the child would have to be inserted during breastfeeding. “It’s the same milk, it won’t hurt”, adds Carolina.
The accessory breast is not harmful to the woman, that is, it does not have serious consequences, but it can cause pain and a feeling of swelling in the area, especially during the menstrual period, and the output of milk after childbirth.
There is still no drug treatment for polymastia, but removal of the accessory breast through surgery is a definitive resource.
The possibility of the procedure, as well as the diagnosis of the condition, should be made by a specialist — a mastologist or gynecologist.
The chances of polymastia becoming breast cancer are the same as a regular breast, so women should be aware of the main risk factors for the disease: genetic inheritance, early menarche, late menopause, sedentary lifestyle, obesity and alcoholism, for example. .
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