Hello...I am a 46 year old female. History: had 3 cysts at the same time in the left breast when about 40. Took Prempro for 1.5 years when 43 but discontinued due mostly to continuously swollen and tender breasts. Now use progesterone cream 3 weeks out of the month, taking a break at my period. Periods have been a little sporadic in the last few years, but mostly regular. About a year ago, my right breat itched gradually more and more. When I finally examined it, pressing on it to see if I could feel a lump, there was suddenly a lot of discharge - mostly white-ish. That surprised me, so I continued to press on it, moving my fingers around, almost like squeezing a pimple. A lot came out, and the discharge stayed white, but became darker just before no more would come out. The itching seemed to subside after that. My annual mammogram was normal. About a year later, the right nipple continued to itch and looked a little different than the left- more "hard", or sensitized. I also had another lump on the same side, had a diag. mammogram and ultrasound, and was diagnosed with a benign simple cyst, 2 X 1.5 cm. The dr. also gave me an Rx for a prolactin test, but I bought Susan Love's book, researched that and found the test is to detect a pituitary tumor and thus should be a bilateral condition - and mine is right side only. Left breast is totally asymptomatic. The reason I'm writing is that the lump is gone, but the right nipple continues to itch somewhat, and the bottom part of the nipple seems harder to me than the rest of the nipple. I've already had a mammogram and ultrasound - what could be causing continued itching and the hard-ish spot? My dr. seems to brush these concerns aside and I don't know what else to do. Thank you for your help.
Q: What could be causing my itchy and partially hard nipple?
Hi - Considering how long this has been going on, I'd doubt it was cancer. However, if I were you, I'd ask to see a breast specialist. A specialist could test for (and almost certainly eliminate) Paget's Disease of the Breast, a rare cancer; and could also figure out what's going on, and hopefully treat it. Just because your regular doctor brushes it off, doesn't mean you shouldn't pursue it, right? Get another opinion from a specialist. Good luck - PJH
I would recommend studying effects of progesterone cream. See if anyone else has had similar experiences. I recently experimented with taking progesterone cream for low hormone levels without estrogen dominance, and within a very short time began experiencing a very itchy, red, somewhat enlarged left breast. I also have the sensation that something is in my breast that needs to come out - perhaps it is discharge as you experienced, although I have seen none. It has only been a few days, so I will see what happens.
I don't want to alarm you regarding your symptoms, but the discharge is disconcerting. Progesterone does stimulate the mammary glands, and you could try halting the cream for a time. I would also recommend seeing a breast specialist, and do some research on your own regarding inflammatory breast cancer, as well as intraductal carcinoma. Not all cancers are seen on mammo or ultrasound, so you may want to consider requesting an MRI of your breast, which would show increased contrast uptake if there is a cancer or some other process going on. Worst-case, if you have any family history of breast or ovarian cancer you could find and consult with a good surgeon. Don't let your doctor just blow it off.
The cysts in your breast are inconsequential and not even worth mentioning. Cysts are a somewhat mysterious, but natural process that goes on in certain tissues. In breasts they are nothing of concern. Iodine can help with fibrocycstic breast change if that is what's going on.
I have had the same itchiness, irritation, discharge, etc for about 2 yrs. Initially MD attributed it to BP meds, but took precautionary blood test anyway. That was last spring. This spring I noticed a small lump by nipple. Mammograms and ultrasounds followed by a biopsy and now I have the disagnosis: Paget's disease. I've been on Prempro about 3 years. RUN, do not walk to your gyn and insist on a biopsy. It's a slow growing cancer, but please DO NOT WAIT!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing your experience here - it's a message well worth repeating. If you have a breast change, don't let anyone brush it off; work to find out what's causing it. You may have to advocate for yourself, be a "squeaky wheel," get a second opinion; but it's all worth it if you find out the condition is a sign of breast cancer. Thankfully, most breast issues are NOT cancer; but you need to rule it out. I hope you're doing well with treatment - PJH
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Hello,
Thank you for your reply. I have actually seen a breast specialist, who did an exam and ultrasound and found no cancer. I've also since had a repeat mammo and ultrasound, with detailed radiologist review, and again, nothing. I know "nothing" is good news, but I'd sure like to know what is going on. My insurance won't cover the cost of an MRI, and I can't afford it on a cash basis. The only option they've given me is to go to a general surgeon. That seems drastic to me since no one seems to have any idea what is going on. I'm not eager to have a surgeon cut into my breast on a fishing expedition.
As for the progesterone, I have researched it thoroughly and feel very comfortable using it. My cysts have actually disappeared since I started using it. Specifically, my most recent mammo report from the detailed review found that my "small cystic disease" in my right breast had shrunk since the '08 report. Quoting from one of the many sources I consulted in my own studies, "In breast tissue, estrogen stimulates breast duct cells to proliferate, whereas progesterone inhibits this proliferation and causes maturation and differentiation of the cells, making them more resistant to cancerous changes. Such effects have been demonstrated in both premenopausal and menopausal women." Another study published in 1981 in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who were deficient in progesterone were over 5 times more likely to acquire breast cancer, and 10 times more likely to develop cancer of any sort. I've found progesterone to be an exceedingly safe substance in my research. I'm not aware of any studies which point to a link between progesterone and increased breast cancer, whereas there is a definite, established link between the pharmacetical progestins (like Provera, also in PremPro) and breast cancer, along with heart attacks, stroke, etc. etc.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it.