22-year-old mother develops milk-producing ‘breast’ in armpit

After giving birth to her first child in 2013, Janiz discovered something unusual on her body: a third milk-producing breast in her armpit.

The 22-year-old from Molave, Zamboanga del Sur said that bump also appears to have a nipple, and that it would hurt, swell and produce milk when pinched.

Janiz has polymastia, a doctor said on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.

Janiz said her left armpit also developed a bump, but unlike the other one it does not have a nipple, nor does it produce milk.

According to breast surgeon Dr. Broxil Macabinlar in an episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Janiz's condition is called polymastia or accessory breast, a congenital maldevelopment in which another breast develops near the chest area.

Dr. Macabinlar said it is caused by excess breast tissue and that Janiz has had it since birth, but that it only became evident when she gave birth herself.

About 2 to 6 percent of the whole female population have this condition. But Janiz's polymastia case is rarer, as the doctor said most do not develop a nipple.

Janiz said she would tie a cloth around her breasts to control the milk production, believing that the milk coming out of the lump on her armpit is associated with her breast milk.

When she stopped breastfeeding her firstborn, the lump stopped producing milk. The milk only came back when she gave birth to her second child.

She said she never tasted it or let her children drink it since she was not sure what it was.

The doctor said it was harmless but said it may have its disadvantages, including aesthetic ones.

The old citizens in their town believe that her third breast is a product of what they call "lihi."

Janiz's family even considers her third breast lucky, saying that since Janiz discovered her third breast, the family has received continuous blessings. — Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/BM, GMA News