Thanks fairydust and Marg for your reassurance and kind thoughts. I know that broken skin is the route for bacterial infection, and I had a raw and very sore nipple. It has healed now and I have no reason to expect further breast or nipple injury - long since finished breastfeeding! I friend has lymphoedema in her arm following mastectomy and node removal. She has had several episodes of cellulitis in her arm and has been told that the impaired lymphatic drainage puts her at risk when she has e.g. a gardening injury. That's what made me wonder about my breast being more susceptible.
