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Q: I'm 32 and for a while I have had discharge from one nipple which is usually a dark browish/yellowish color also very sticky, I've had blisters near my nipple, this has been going on for 7 months.
Shilo, dimpled skin and spontaneous brownish discharge from the nipple are both possible signs of breast cancer, so please see a doctor ASAP. While it's unlikely you have cancer, you absolutely need to be responsible about your health, and rule it out. Don't panic; but do call the doctor, describe your symptoms, and make an appointment, OK? Good luck - PJH
I am 45 and have same problem but my discharge does not just seep out I have to squeeze. My breasts are swollen, bigger. I also breast fed 3 children. I had tests done couple weeks ago. No infection, no problem with part of brain that tells your body to lactate. Cancer cell test shows negative. Next week I am going for a diagnostic mamogram. My last mammagram was about 4 months ago was normal.
My Dr. says this is not normal and can not be ignored. Therefore going to see breast specialist next week. What worries me in your case is you only have this problem in one breast. Mine is both which is unlikely for breast cancer.
You really need to go see a doctor. I would not put it off for your children sake! Yellowish discharge is usually some kind of infection but brown is dried blood.
I was unable to read others that replied to you did anyone give you any indication what this is? I am very concerned myself of what they will find next week. My breasts are very sore, vary hard in areas. Sometimes I feel like I am producing so much milk for no reason! That is what made me squeeze one day because I was like what the heck is in these breasts that is giving me so much pressure. Especially left breasts my right isnt so bad. My shirts are tight now though and bras. They are bigger for some reason?
I wish you the best of luck and please go get checked out! My Dr took discharge samples sent to lab for signs of infections. Another specimen for cancer cells test. I would think you seriously need to do the same please.
Julie
Julie, it's good that your doctor is being so proactive in getting the problem diagnosed. Having these problems in both breasts does increase the chance that something hormonal is going on, rather than breast cancer. Although discharge is very common, the severity of your symptoms in both breasts seems unusual. Please let us know what you find out. Your experience may help us answer future questions.
Update. I went to my other Gyno Friday. He tells me it wouldn't be cancer because
it is happening in both breasts. He was not at all concerned. He thinks it was the
birth control pills he put me on. I advised him my other Gyno is having me see a breasts specialist this week and get a diagnostic mammo. He said this is over kill and finds it unnessary. He told me even if I had breasts cancer it wouldn't show up in the diagnostic mammo. Do I trust this doctor? Anyways I am going through with going to my other appts this week just to be on the safe side.
He is more concerned with the growing cyst I have on my left ovary which I can feel more and more and also the abnormal pap smear I had in June. These were both diagnosed in June of this year. Thanks
Your gyn doctor is correct that your problem is unlikely to be cancer since it is in both breasts, and the fact that you have recently started birth control pills is a good possible explanation for your symptoms. I don't see any harm in going ahead with the diagnostic mammogram. I'm not sure why the gyn would say that breast cancer wouldn't show up in a diagnostic mammogram. Although mammograms do sometimes miss breast cancer, they can often find problems that a clinical exam by the doctor would miss.
He said you have to get a MRI to really see if it's breasts cancer. Thanks
He's wrong, Julie. A mammogram and MRI can both indicate areas of concern, but only a biopsy can provide a sure diagnosis. I'm glad you're going to keep your appointments; might as well be proactive and try to figure out what this is with the bst means possible. Good luck - PJH
Update. Went and had diagnostic mammogram today. I also took the disc of the mammogram I had March of this year for comparison. The doctor took me into his office and showed me what I believe he called Calsification (sp) on upper part of both breasts to armpits. Worse on left side which that breasts has given me most problems. He wants to do an ultrasound now. He told me that it probably isn't cancer but he needs further evaluation. What is calsification and if not cancer what else could cause it? You can clearly see all this on the mammogram. He also said breasts implants are very good no problems there. I am contemplating about going to breast implant doctor tomorrow. (had implants with him back in 93). I think he just wants deeper pockets and me to get them redone as they told me on the phone I need to get the done every 10yrs. The doctor said today not necessary that they are probably suggesting for financial gain for themselves. I will be going to a breast doctor Friday and I think then I will make my decision if I will proceed to get an ultrasound. Your thoughts? Thanks
Julie, I don't think an ultrasound would tell you much about the calcifications, but it would show if there might be a cyst or cysts causing you pain. Calcifications are quite common in women; they can be completely harmless, or they can be a possible early sign of cancer. If they're macrocalcifications, they're harmless. If they're microcalcifications, they're harmless unless they appear in a line, or in a distinct pattern; in which case you might want to investigate further - perhaps another mammogram in 3 months.
I've heard that implants need to be replaced every 10 years due to possible deterioration issues that could allow them to leak saline or silicone; so if you haven't had them replaced since 1993, and you're getting on towards 20 years, I'm not surprised they want to replace them. Since you're going to a breast specialist, best to ask him both about the calcifications, and about the need to replace the implants. Good luck - PJH
Mine in are lines from ducts top of breasts to armpit both breasts left being worse and more visible. I did call my implant dr this morning and they agreed no need in going to appt today but to let them know what happens Friday with Breasts Specialtist. I don't have the money to get the implants redone so my opinion waste of time to go see the implant dr. Great contraversy on the implants being replaced every 10 years. Other women I know that have them tell me they never heard of such a thing that there Dr advised them to only replace if problem. Radiologist told me they only want to replace to put money in there pockets so... very hard to say what I should do. Although doesn't matter I don't have the money anyways. thanks
Update: Hmm... just received a call from my Gyno her and the Breasts Specialist received the results from Radiologist and she called to tell me to get in for the ultra sound right away. I advised her I was going to wait until I seen the Breast Dr Friday she said no they already spoke and want ultrasound to view at visit. Which isn't going to happen because I can not get an appt until next week at this other place that actually takes my medicaid. Waiting for call back from Breasts Specialist to see what I should do
Julie, I've found that when a doctor wants a test right away, testing facilities usually find a way to work a patient in. I'm guessing that if you call back to explain the issue, the breast specialist or your gynecologist can call the place that takes Medicaid. Then you will be able to have the ultrasound before your Friday appointment. The information from the ultrasound will be valuable for the Friday appointment. Good luck in getting it all scheduled.
After speaking to breasts specialist and advising him that I have been exposed to alot of radiation in the past 6 months and didn't want to get the ultra sound if not necessary. The Dr. advised for me to wait and let him examine me because I may need an MRI instead of ultra sound. So I will know more tomorrow when I go to appt. I am hoping there is a logical explanation for the hardness and pain in breast and all this will turn out to just be hormonal. Personally I think it was the Heather Birth Control pill that has caused all my problems or atleast I am hoping.
We hope all goes well with your appointment. I don't think an ultrasound exposes you to radiation. It doesn't work like an X-ray, but if a test isn't necessary, there is no point in doing it. Let us know what the doctor says.
Update: went for ultrasound found lymp node on left breast. This is the breast area where I have the pain. In fact when they did the ultra sound it was painful in that area to touch. The radiologist told me that it most likely is not cancer but I must get another ultra sound in 6 months. Is there something I should be worried about here? If it isn't cancer why does that area hurt all the tiime? Why do I always feel like something is there? He said the lymp node was small. Thanks
Julie, it sounds like you need some clarification from your doctor. Why would a "small lymph node" hurt? That doesn't sound logical. We all have small lymph nodes in our breasts, but in general they're painless. So I'd keep after him until you get an explanation that makes sense: what's abnormal, as revealed via the ultrasound; what's causing the pain; and what will he be looking for on an ultrasound 6 months from now? Until you totally understand what's happening, I think you'll continue to feel uneasy about this whole experience... Good luck - PJH
Follow up with your doctor as PJ suggested. A painful lymph node does need follow-up, but in general, painful lumps are not likely to be cancer. So you can put cancer lower on your list of things to worry about. Did your doctor discuss the possibility of some kind of infection causing the lymph node to swell? Lymph nodes are little pumping stations for the lymphatic system. That system sends infection-fighting substances throughout our bodies. When the lymph system is working extra hard to fight an infection, the nodes sometimes get swollen.
The radiologist said the lymp node looks suspicious but probably isn't cancer. On the screen it showed a little circle. Something was there I just do not know what and the radiologist could not give me any straight answers. He was trying to reach my doctor for an hour to get copy of the diagnostic mammo and report but after not being able to reach him (which that wasn't even the Dr I wanted them to reach) I wanted them to call my breast specialist not the previous radiologist. My breast doctor Friday reviewed my Mammo in March and compared to the Diag Mammo I recently had. My Diag Mammo I had that Dr I paid to see was actually on vacation and I never even got an exam that day when I was suppose to. I am going to call my Breasts Specialist today and see what they recommend I do. Although they may not get the report from this radiologist for a day or two. I do find it suspicious that I have this pain constantly. The slightest touch makes it worse. I feel as if one of my ducts may be clogged or something if that is possible? I had a sample of discharge sent to lab and that came back neg for any kind of infection. I wish I could go back in time and went with my instincts and didn't take that Birth Control Pill. That is when my problems started. You would think that pill would be out of my sytem by now. I went on in June went off in middle of August mid cycle.
Shilo, thanks for reporting back. I'm glad the mammogram and ultrasound are clear; and I'm betting the docs will eventually determine the discharge is hormonal. I think, if you see the breast specialist and s/he finds nothing seriously wrong (perhaps you need some hormone-regulating drugs), then you should probably consider relaxing about this, OK? Good luck - PJH
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I have been and seen my doctor and she sent me for a mammogram and a ultra sound as my doctor found the lymph node in my armpit, mammogram couldn't see anything and ultra sound looked fine (that's waht the lady said who done ultra sound) I have to wait now to see what my doctor says about seeing a breast specialist due to the discharge. I'm really nervous as it's all up in the air right now and I know that I should have been happy that the mammogram and ultra sound are fine but my gutt feeling isn't say this. So just an update until I hear from my doctor.