Several months ago (?July) I posted about a woman with a red breast for
one month without symptoms of mastitis. A couple of lactnetters were
concerned about the possiblity of inflammatory cancer. I spoke to her a
month later and breast was still red so I suggested check up with breast
surgeon. He reassured her that a cancerous breast would also be lumpy. He
described this as a "chemical mastitis" - ie what Maureen Minchin has
been saying for years: noninfective mastitis. The redness has now gone,
but has taken several months.

RE: oestrogen levels and the contraceptive pill. Oestrogen levels would
be higher on the pill than normally, but not as high as during pregnancy.

RE: vaginal itch and ?low oestrogen. Usually women notice dryness,
irritation and discomfort with intercourse when oestrogen levels are low,
rather than an itch. If yeast was present on micro and she has an itch,
probably should still treat for thrush. If creams haven't worked: ?could
cream be causing the irritation, try different cream, or fluconazole
orally.

Lisa Amir
GP / IBCLC in Melbourne, Australia