I'm afraid I've got purely anecdotal/my own personal experience with this.
During my own experience with my nursling, I managed to get a clogged duct
followed by a bout of mastitis in BOTH of my breasts (not at the same
time), which was followed by a small galactocele which I still have (one in
each breast; still nursing).  It sounds like she's got a larger version of
the same thing.  If it is a galactocele (as seems likely, although she
could always seek an opinion from a second surgeon), then antibiotics will
not resolve it.  It will most likely be resolved by the end of lactation.
Otherwise, I believe the treatment involves either aspiration of the
contents, or excision of the cyst itself.  My understanding is that the
risk of it actually becoming infected (an abscess) is low, as the contents
are "sterile," with no outlet to the outside world for bacteria to travel
through.  Personally, I have adopted a conservative monitoring course with
my own.  I know what to look for on the rare chance that an infection does
start up, and I'd advise you to educate her in the same.  Otherwise, if it
isn't bothering her in any other way, you all could just wait and watch.  I
know not as satisfying as getting it "popped," but I think better in the
long run.

Nile Clark, RN-BSN
Lactation Consultant in Training :)
Shoreline, WA

Date:    Wed, 6 May 2015 13:40:37 -0400
From:    dina herren <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Case study- help needed please ...Former listmom request.

Have you thought about referring her to interventional radiologist for
suggestions? I work in an OB/GYN practice and we have found interventional
radiologist are very breastfeeding friendly...at least the ones in my area
(Tifton, GA) are breastfeeding friendly.

Dina Herren, FNP-C
(Sit for my IBCLC boards in July)

On Wed, May 6, 2015 at 8:31 AM, Holly McSpadden <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Galactocele?
>
> Holly McSpadden, IBCLC
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On May 6, 2015, at 7:57 AM, Kathleen Bruce <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all. Good morning.  I have a case study to present, and welcome any
> > information or experience you might be able to share with me, as I am a
> bit
> > stumped. I've been an IBCLC since 1993 and have been working with bf
> > mothers in my area in Vermont, and over the world as an online LC, and
> here
> > as the Lactnet dreamer upper for donkey years.
> >
> > In any case, here's the info, permission to share:
> >
> > 30 year old first time mom. Nursing active 12 month old. Lots of nursing
> at
> > night, not so much during day.(too busy is the baby). : )
> >
> > Mother has had a few bouts of mastitis, one lately that stemmed from a
> > 2x2x2cm lump close to her chest wall. Mother is slight frame, and has
> large
> > D breasts.  The lump is deep in there. Heat, massage, extra nursing did
> not
> > help. Was treated with round of antibiotics. Upon completion of Diclox
> > round, the lump was still there.
> >
> > Mother very concerned. Saw breast surgeon, who did not have vast
> knowledge
> > of the lactating breast, but who did ultrasound it. She has a mass of
> > hardened milk, he thought. No needle biopsy. Did not appear to be
cancer,
> > or an abscess.  Has anyone heard of this large an area of hardened milk?
> >
> > What to do with this? She is nervous that it will turn into an abscess,
> and
> > is doing her best to keep heat on it and to breastfeed as much as a
break
> > nursing toddler will allow.
> >
> > Thoughts please.  Thank you .  Kathleen Bruce RN IBCLC Please email me
> > directly as well as to Lactnet.  [log in to unmask]
> >
> > ​Kathleen B. Bruce
> > RN IBCLC
> > N. Vermont, USA
> > Lactnet Inventor, 1995 ​
> > [log in to unmask]
> >

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