I hope i am posting this in the right area… signing up for this forum was hard for me because I’m not sure if I have breast cancer … but I’m very worried and don’t want to be a bother . I’ve had irregular discharge coming from my nipples since I was about 14 ? or around that age . Im estimating because I never realized how long it had been happening, I thought it was something everyone had , until RECENTLY I saw my moms nipples for comparison and was like “oh . So. Mine Are Not supposed to have white ish/ faintly yellow discharge crusting inside so that they appear indented ….???” so . Realizing that, my mom and I decided to get it checked out , my general doctor saw my chest and said “oh that’s interesting .maybe it’s eczema” she gave me a cream, and. that didn’t do much so she referred me to a dermatologist who saw me and …didn’t see any outside skin abnormalities that were eczema-like…. so I’m going to see an oncologist tomorrow .
I did. so much (maybe too much) research stressing about this. I’m thinking I might have Paget’s Breast disease of the nipple . and I’m so worried . I have abscesses on both of my nipples, and they keep flaking, sometimes my chest feels like it’s burning , and now very small pieces are turning dark brown and I can peel it off (I probably shouldn’t . I stopped because it felt tender after I gently took a very small piece off) I don’t know. I’m worried for tomorrow . It’s my first oncologist appointment and I don’t know what to expect . I don’t want to be dismissed because I am young but I’m also worried. and I don’t want them to do a biopsy . I’m scared it will hurt . I’m also trying not to stress my mom out, because the last thing she needs is more stuff to worry about …
Hi @kay3 I’m so sorry that you’re going through such a worrying time. You are doing absolutely the right thing by having this investigated, so well done on persevering until you get definite answers. Only 20-22% of biopsies on the breast come back as a form of cancer so you have over 75% chance that it is something else which should be easily treatable. There are lots of things it could be which Google decides not to tell you about - best walk away from online searches and leave it to the experts.
When you go for your oncology appointment you will most likely have a mammogram, which is a scan of your breast so they can see what’s going on inside. A mammogram can be a little uncomfortable as your breast gets a bit squashed but it’s over very quickly. They may do an ultrasound which you won’t feel at all as it’s running a ball over the surface of your skin. As to the biopsy itself, if they find nothing suspicious from the scans, it may be just a case of taking samples of the discharge. If they do need to take a full biopsy, you will have local anaesthetic applied so you don’t feel a thing.
What you have to prepare yourself for is a wait whilst they analyse any samples taken. I think you may be in the US but here in the UK, they normally give you an indication of what they think it is at the biopsy appointment but I’m not sure of the protocol in the USA. Everyone on this forum will tell you that that waiting for results is the worst part but keep in mind that the vast majority of results do not show cancer. I hope that you have someone to go with you today as it can be a bit overwhelming and you may not remember everything said to you. I won’t say ‘try not to worry’ as it’s impossible not to but I will say, whatever this turns out to be should be very treatable. Please let us know how you get on - we’re all on your side and can help answer questions or just lend support when needed. Good luck.
thank you so much for the encouraging words and information,! I forgot to respond but I read this the night before the appointment and it helped a lott. I imagined you as tigress from kung fu panda…
following up with the appointment, I went with my mom and I didn’t get a mammogram done or an ultrasound , as the doctor told me my symptoms didn’t seem pathological. unfortunately my nipples were more dry during the breast exam , and i felt bad because there wasn’t enough for her to sample and bring to a lab to examine. the nurse and the oncologist squeezed them to try and get discharge out but I told them they don’t really have discharge when squeezed , as it usually happens at random, along with the more dry crusting . they still touched it so much that my nipples felt a little sore after, but nothing that hurt , I’m just not used to that!
I’m thinking I might be okay, but I’m also still slightly worried it’s pagets breast disease but a very early stage (?) . I was so nervous i didn’t mention it to them . I feel so stupid for not asking about it . I always get really stuck when I try to explain things to doctors … . But I did explain that usually the crust is yellow ish or white and thick? … I can’t tell if I’m just burning myself out worrying so much.
The doctor told me to apply Vaseline or aquifer to the area every night , and if it doesn’t improve or worsens , then I should come back in a few months, and they can figure out what tests to do. she did say that sometimes breasts just get crusty and it’s a normal thing where it happens sometimes more than others , so …. maybe I’ll be ok?
I’m going to be monitoring them (taking pictures) and paying closer attention to how they feel or react to the aquifer . I’m also going to be avoiding sugar and going to sleep earlier . I don’t know if that will help my nipples but even if it doesn’t, I think it would fix my mental state a little bit . I’m so sleepy all the timw . zzz thw doctor also joked I look skinny and that I should try to exercise more … maybe I can become super buff next time I see her (if I have to, I’m hoping not but yknow!)
Thank you for the update @kay3. It does sound as if the medics are not overly concerned about the look of your breasts but you are doing absolutely the right thing in keeping a log of how they feel and what they look like and what the impact that the aquifer has. I also hope that it clears up without you having to return to see the doctor but if it helps with your mental health just to discuss the likelihood of Paget’s then it would be worth that one extra trip. You are so young and it is really extremely rare for someone of your age to get serious issues with their breasts but it is human nature to think the worst and cause ourselves needless worry. I wish you all the very best. I’d just say that, as you go through life, getting reassurance about worries of any sort is not ‘being a bother’, so don’t diminish your own self worth. And, yes, I am EXACTLY like Tigress from Kung Fu Panda
so she referred me to a dermatologist who saw me and …didn’t see any outside skin abnormalities that were eczema-like…. so I’m going to see an oncologist tomorrow .
I imagined you as tigress from kung fu panda…
but I told them they don’t really have discharge when squeezed , as it usually happens at random, along with the more dry crusting . they still touched it so much that my nipples felt a little sore after, but nothing that hurt , I’m just not used to that!
(if I have to, I’m hoping not but yknow!)