Prophylactic Double Mastectomy -still expressing breast milk

Lajudy

I have a really strange question. So, I have finished both my mastectomy and my exchange surgery. I have silicone implants. My recovery has been fine... except, tonight, I noticed that I can still express breast milk - not a lot but I thought that this whole system should be shut down after a double mastectomy.

We did the nipple delay before the mastectomy. On the day of my mastectomy (presurgery), the doctor saw some milk and she was surprised.

I thought I noticed a tiny bit once or twice before tonight so I thought I would see if I could express any and sure enough I could. Should I be concerned about this?

I recall my mother being concerned post surgery at how my breasts didn't look quite as "emptied" as she'd expected.

Have heard of this before?

I greatly appreciate any information you may have. Thank you so much for any ideas.

mustlovepoodles

That sounds odd.You shouldnt be able to make or express milk after BMX. Call your BS today.

ravzari

Yeah, I'd second the "Call your BS".

After a mastectomy, you should have NO breast tissue left (save for on a microscopic level, as it's impossible for a surgeon to get 100%) and should not be physically able to produce milk as all of the related tissue that would allow it should have been removed during the mastectomy.

pupmom

That makes NO sense.

Lajudy

Thank you. This is what I was thinking. So, it sounds like possibly, there still breaat tissue. It sounds like maybe I need to have a "Second" DM... I will see a DIFFERENT breast surgeon for a second opinion.

Lajudy

Thank you. This is what I was thinking. So, it sounds like possibly, there still breaat tissue. It sounds like maybe I need to have a "Second" DM... I will see a DIFFERENT breast surgeon for a second opinion.

Lajudy

Thank you. This is what I was thinking. So, it sounds like possibly, there still breaat tissue. It sounds like maybe I need to have a "Second" DM... I will see a DIFFERENT breast surgeon for a second opinion.

farmerlucy

When I get my yearly MRIs the radiologist remarks about the amount of remaining breast tissue he sees. (Not much in my case.) So if this persists you might inquiry about doing one.

Ngrd

what ended up happening

Lajudy

Thank you for checking in and asking. Also thank you to those who replied. So I revisited the surgeon. I was not satisfied with her answer. She refused to order an MRI. Her response what, "well, it is not normal but I am not concerned." She offered to do an ultrasound in three months time (which I had read online is quite useless ). She claimed that an MRI before 1 year isn't very effective bc of scar tissue and healing, etc. I felt that was nonsense. I felt that was probably some statute of limitations that she was trying to avoid being responsible for leaving too much in. I'm not the type who has the energy to sue but I suppose that she was likely concerned about this.

Trying to make a long story short.. my on ordered an MRI for me and I saw the images. I still have more breast tissue left in my left breast (the one that expressed milk). I am a teacher so I will pursue looking into what to do over the summer when I have a chance to get second opinions.

Thank you to the person who suggested to do an MRI.

Ngrd

im actually in the same boat and saw a new surgeon who did an ultrasound and saw I had a lot of tissue left. They are recommending me doing another double masectomy and reconstruction.. planning to do it again Next month..

jerzeygirl17

Hi there, how is it going? I recently had Bilateral as well 8 weeks ago and noticed I was still expressing milk. My BS was a bit taken back and shared it was impossible however I went to see her to show her first hand. She wanted me to keep an eye on it until my second stage implant surgery....She had shared that it would be a simple revision which she will do next month when I have my expanders removed for implants.

But I was def freaked out and still a bit worried but she seemed to take it all in stride at this point. But I was def mortified when it first happened in my PS office when he was removing my stitches. He had never seen it happen in his 30 years.

Just wanted to follow up to see how you are doing and share with you that I am going thru the same thing 8 weeks post op.

You are not alone sista

Eyecandy112496

Hello,

I had a prophylactic double nipple sparing mastectomy with expanders earlier this year. My exchange surgery has been postponed due to an unexpected, but pleasant surprise (pregnancy). I’m about 20 weeks along and the nipple of my left breast is beginning to leak a clear fluid with a yellowish tint. Nothing at all from my right. I reached out to my PS and she doesn’t believe the expanders are leaking. I have an appointment with my breast surgeon tomorrow for her to check things out.

I am reading that, generally speaking, some pregnant women (without mastectomies, of course) begin leaking colostrum by this time. I would think that I wouldn’t be able to produce colostrum, but this post is making me think otherwise. It is shocking.
Finding this post is somewhat relieving (at least I have an understanding of what it could be potentially). We’ll see what my surgeon says.

Thank you for posting this and if anyone else has any updates, feel free to share.