Saturday, July 05, 2008 Anya asks

Q: Pain, Tenderness, and a wierd pimple-like bump.

My name is Anastasia. For the last few months I have had pain in my left breast and it is very tender. I have a family history of it so I have looked up symtoms of breast cancer before and know that pain is usually not a sign of cancer, so I brushed it off thinking I just might have hurt it while doing my daily activities. Now, about four months later, it is still here. I checked for lumps, but BSE is not very accurate. What's even more disconcerting is that I have had what I assumed to be a pimple on the underside of said breast. Today, I tried to pop it, and found that it may not be a pimple. When I popped it a hard, pin tip sized black-grey, circlular thing came out of it. I am not sure what it could be and am now wondering if I should be concerned. I know at my age it is very rare to have cancer, but I don't want to brush it off and find out later that it was not benign.

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Answers (4)

PJ Hamel, Health Guide

7/ 5/08 10:35am

Hi Anya - I don't know your age, but I'll assume you're young. You sound very well informed - with your family history of breast cvancer, this is a good thing. Congratulations! Although what you describe doesn't sound like cancer (considering it's been going on for several months), I'd go visit the doctor simply to set your mind at ease, and to perhaps get something to address your pain/soreness. go ahead and make that call - no sense being in pain if you don't have to be, eh? Good luck - PJH

Angi

7/ 5/08 5:01pm

Hi Anya - I'm by no means a doctor, but it sounds like you may have had a boil. It's almost like a pimple, because when popped it can produce a chunky off-colored discharge. Also a boil can be quite tender and painful, as it is almost like a lump in the way that it's a hard round abscess. The abscess, aside from being tender, can often be red and warm. Boils are infections that can take months to fester, and often antibiotics don't really work on them unless they are of the anti-bacterial kind such as Levaquin. often boils just need time to heal on their own, to go through the cycle - and if it was popped or burst, you're closer to it healing, as long as the infection/discharge is all gone. if there is still a small lump left, that means it's not quite healed. But I would definitely consult with your doctor. He can probably give you something to help clear it up & double check that the spot is all clear by doing a mammo or ultrasound.

i've had boils in the past and have popped them with a steralized needle, and I will tell you some nasty strange looking things have come out of them - mostly yellowish in color, sometimes hard sometimes gooey. I hope that this turns out to be something minor and that you can set your mind at ease with your doctor's help.

Good luck to you and keep in touch - let us know if it was indeed something more or if you have more questions.

thanks!

Angi

kate

2/ 6/09 1:59pm

i am fairly young and i am experiences somewhat of the same thing on my nipple area their are pimple like bumps their are about two one bigger than the other and it seems to even be spreading. I dont really have time to go to the docor and its been around 5 months since i have had these bumps and i was wondering if you found out any information regarding your situation. If so please post because im worried.

kate

2/ 6/09 1:59pm