Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 2/8/2008

Question
Both of my breast has been leaking a clear or milky fluid for about 3 years now.This mostly happen when im in the shower or about to come on my period. I am 27, not on any medications,and definitely not pregnant. My doctor said it was normal. I am concerned now because I heard that it could be a sign of a breast cancer. So I asked him if he could run some lab work on me. Everything checked out normal. Is there something wrong me? What should I tell my doctor to do next? Thank you for helping me resolve this problem.

Answer
This sometimes happens. Unless there is blood in the fluid any cancer risk is VERY small. The fluid can also be checked for cancer cells with exfoliative cytology (like a gynecological pap smear). You can also have the milk duct from which the fluid comes checked with galactography (lika x-ray mammography but with a x-ray contrast liquid injected into the milk duct). If these tests and mammography, ultrasound & MRI scans do not show anything there is NO reason to worry, but honestly I regard several of these tests as unnecessary. Mainly because you have had this for so long without a change. A galactogram however may be of interest even if tests can not show any blood in the liquid. Mainly because it may show a reason for this.

Thanks! Milk glands are actually converted sweat glands so natural accidents like this is not that unlikely or difficult to understand.