There is very little available on galactoceles. I can share my personal experience. My son, my first, is 26 months old. I was diagnosed with a galactocele at 6 weeks post-partum. He had PTT/ULT at 3 weeks old. We had poor weight gain, engorgement, and excruciating nipple pain with BF before and after, but he did eventually learn how to use his new tongue. I developed chronic mastitis in the galactocele after undergoing needle biopsy and drainage. When I tried to return to work, the mastitis flared repeatedly unless I used a Symphony pump, which my insurance would not cover. There must have been some movement in the milk when he nursed, but less with a suboptimal pump. I eventually went part-time on FMLA. 

My son continues to nurse. The galactocele is still there and quite large. I recently got a second opinion from a breast surgeon. I was hoping she'd agree to perform the nylon probing procedure I'd read about here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12757066 But she was not willing too. She wanted to drain it and then remove the whole duct. As I may have more children, I am not willing to compromise my future ability to make milk for them, so declined the surgery. I have contacted other providers/surgeons and have yet to find someone willing to attempt the nylon probing treatment. Luckily the mastitis has not flared in well over a year. I returned to work full-time when my son was 15 months old.

No one has been able to tell me why I developed it. I believe it was either from inefficient milk removal from the PTT/ULT, scar tissue from the periareolar incision I had for a fibroadenoma 7 years prior, or a combination of both. 

Basically, the options for treatment are: 1. Leave it there and hope it disappears eventually. Some people say that it will disappear after lactation has ceased. Mine has not shrunk while my son has been gradually self-weaning, so I am doubtful it will go away. 2. Have it removed surgically, which can be messy on a lactating breast and may affect milk supply. 3. Find someone to perform the nylon probing treatment.

Hope this helps! How is the mom doing now?

Maria Dentino, RD, CDN, CLC
Batavia, NY

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