Hi,
I do feel a bit embarrased posting here…cos am sure its nothing…and ive been reading for the last couple of days and ppl who are posting have a lot more going on and are being so couragous and brave.
About 4 months ago i developed a small circle about the top of your thumb size scaly area on my areola. It itches and once it starts i cant think of anything else. If i scratch it underneath is shiny and a slighlty different colour. It feels like its burning sometimes. It feels almost that i want to scratch underneath the skin
Over the last 4 months it has grown in size not dramatically but a little. The rest of my areola is dry not scaly but flaky.
The other breast is not affected.
My breast and nipple hurt alot but i dont know whether im just more aware of it cos im anxious. I cant feel any lumps exactly they feel lumpy but if honest ive never done the exam thing so dont actually know whats normal for me or not.
I finally booked an appt with my gp this tuesday but now ive rubbed at it an now all the skin has come off and apart from a little scaliness on the 5p area it hard to see. Yet i kno it will come back.
Am i being completly silly? Ive done the typical look up on internet and started scaring myself yet i dont want to be made to feel am making a fuss or laughed at or wasting the gp’s time or him to dismiss something as i had a few months ago when i showed it to the practice nurse and she said it was nothing (at the time i had put cream on so it masked it a bit)
Has anybody had this? Should i cancel the appt an remake when its worse again.
I dont have any family history of bc or any c at all. Im 31.
Sorry for all the questions and sounding anxious.
Alara
Hello Alara,
Firstly sorry you have had to find yourself here, this patch is obviously a worry for you, and as it’s been around for a few months, even though the nurse didn’t think it was anything, I think you’d be very sensible to keep your Drs appt on Tuesday to get it checked out properly. Just explain to him about the itching and scaliness and how it’s got a bit bigger.
Whatever it is, it must be better to get it sorted soon rather than leave it any longer?
I’m sure one of the BCC Mods will be along to point you in the right direction to one of thier excellent publications about what to look for when checking your breasts, meanwhile try not to Google, you’ll end up scaring yourself.
Good luck. P x
Hi Alara,
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums where I’m sure you’ll get lots of support from the many informed users of this site.
As user, Peachez has suggested, I have put for you below the link to one of BCC’s publications “Your breasts, your health” which you may find helpful. You can either download a copy or have one posted out to your free of charge. You can, of course give the helpline here a ring and have a chat with one of the staff about your concerns. Again, calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000 lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
Please do go to see your GP as any changes to your breasts should be checked out even though the majority of problems are not BC
breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/40/
Hope this helps. Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi alara
If it’s enough of a worry that you felt you needed to come on here, then it’s enough of a worry for you to get it checked out. It could be all sorts of things, not just cancer (fungal infection perhaps?) but get it checked out, particularly because it’s been there a while. Make sure you point out how long it’s been there and that it seems to have grown. If you end up getting sent off to the breast clinic, which might be the case because GPs aren’t specialists, don’t panic if you get a really quick appointment, that’s what’s supposed to happen.
You could also give the helpline a ring, they’re lovely.
Well finally went to the doctors… being sent to breast clinic. He thinks its nothing sinister but wants it checked out. On one hand that is reasurring on other am thinking he not a specialist and could just be saying that. Will see i suppose.
Thanks for the replies cos thats what made me stop with the embarrasment thing an go.
I know there are many ladies on here who are already diagnosed and the courage and support shown is amazing from what i have read.
I know others have got more reason to be here but thanks for showing such kindness an replying. Need to stop self from googling cos that gets ur head into all sorts just wait and see an try an go with the former of what the doc said. Feel better for telling even though it is on here no point in worrying ppl unnescarily in the 3d world so thanks for allowing me to do that.
Well done for going to get it checked out. A good thing to remember is that 9 out of 10 referrals to a breast clinic turn out to be NOT CANCER.
Please come back and let us know how you get on, the loudest cheers you’ll get for an all clear will come from the people on the BCC forums.
Fingers crossed for you,
CM
x
I haven’t heard from the breast clinic yet. I had my appt with gp on tues evening and he said he would do the referral. Im not sure if my gp has my up to date phone number an i think am recalling that ppl on here have said they call you to make an appt. Not sure what to do really. Why is it that im noticing symptoms more now ive been referred these last few days seem to be like a year.
Spose i shud just cal gp on monday if i not received and ask just dont wanna be making fuss either. :-S
Well I got my appt through for the 7th but now ive recieved the letter and on it is says cancer not suspected i wonder whether i should cancel cos i dont want to be taking up ppls time if it not needed. Ive seen theres others on here who have lumps and things so am i taking up a valuable space and a slot that could be used for someone more in need? I am worried but equally not sure now whether im now jus paranoid cos of what i read about pagets.
Hi Alara
You really should go to your appointment you are not wasting anyones time and it will put your mind at ease one way or the other. Your GP has referred you so I personally think you should go.
Hope this helps???
Good Luck
Jill x x
Alara, having got this far, and worrying, you MUST go to your appointment. Remember, 9 out of 10 people who attend a breast clinic leave being told it’s not cancer, and no-one has a problem that there are so many who don’t have it turning up at the clinics. Go along, get the reassurance you need, and then come back and tell us the good news.
Hello Alara,
I second what Jill (Tolliebelle) says - pls go to your appt, cos if not u will be left wonderin why you have this scaliness. You really won’t be wasting their time, you know. Most breast problems (approx 9/10) turn out to be nothing suspicious, so the breast clinic staff are used to reasuring people like you, and really don’t think you are wasting their time.
Even if it does turn out to be Paget’s, Paget’s is very very early breast cancer - yes, I’ve had Pagets last October, but the only reason I had to have mastectomy is cos I’d previously had a different sort of very early breast cancer 10 yrs ago - otherwise I wouldnt have needed a mastectomy this last October for the Paget’s.
It’s a scary and uncertain time for you, and you sound a lovely caring person who just doesn’t want to bother people unnecessarily.
Perhaps you’re someone who’s always thinking of others - please think about yourself n go to your appt on the 6th n let us know how you go on afterwards. Pm me if u like n I’ll answer you as soon as I can - I’m going away from Saturday 28th to Tues, then from Thurs to the following Saturday, but I’m thinking of you hun, n lots of other people on here will be too, I promise you, so keep yr appt, ok! (oh gosh, I’m bossy aren’t I, but it’s the caring sort of bossiness, honest!)
Lotsaluv xxx
Hi, I just wanted to agree with everyone else - you really should attend the appointment. If it is good news, then that is great and you can forget about it, if it is not so good news you can start to deal with it and the sooner any treatment starts, the sooner it will be finished. Either way, you need to know what is going on.
Best wishes Lynn x
Hi
I totally agree with what everyone has said. GPs are general practitioners and have limited knowledge on everything, hence referring patients to doctors who specialise in that particular field. A friend of mine was told her lump was not cancer by her gp, but it WAS you must go, as those at the breast clinic are the EXPERTS, you are not wasting anyones time hun.
good luck xxx
Apologies for not replying sooner, thanks so much for replying, i had a tear in my eye reading them that ppl would bother to respond in such kindness and care so thank you.
I have no recieved a second appt which is earlier, all a bit strange but think its happened as my gp is in a different area to where i live which has confused the admin side so got referred to two different trusts. I dont think there is any difference to them as i assume they are both breast referral units. Just need to give them a call and find out which one they want me to attend. I am hoping the closer one for obvious reasons and that a close friend would be able to take me to that one whereas the other one i would have to make my own way there an home.
Jill, Lynn and stargazerlily thanks for taking the time to respond and I will keep the appt thanks for reassuring me that its ok to go.
Shelley thanks for your offer i hope you enjoy ur time away 
You is prob right on me thinking of others its quite hard to self care sometimes 
thanks for your reassurance too
Take care i will update you when i gets back…
Alara x
Alara, please go to your appt, when you find out where to go!
Remember it is a BREAST clinic, not a CANCER clinic! They are there as experts in all sorts of breast conditions, it’s just that 10% of the problems are BC. You have something going on that’s worrying you and your GP wants it checked out too , you’re not wasting anyone’s time!
P xxx
Hi,
Just thought id let you know how my appt went, had a punch biopsy this morning got to wait 1 to 2 weeks for results 
he testing for pagets.
Ultrasound done which he didnt really comment on so hoping that was normal. Just wait and see i spose. Thanks for all your replies so far. Feeling anxious an a bit tearful taken the rest of day off and local wearing off an feelin a lil sore.
Awww sorry to hear you have had to have a biopsy taken. Please let us know how it goes.
SGL xx
Hi again, sorry know have posted already but am all bit of a flap. Just removed the pressure dressing they put on after the biopsy and he hasnt biopsied on the specific area that im concerned about. Its higher up it was still flaky area but not the raised scaly part. Not sure what to do now will it still be ok to show if anything is there? Hard to see when laying down and feel obviously cos was numbed, just dont want to have uncertainity about results. SOrry again for being needy an anxious.
Hi Alara, soooo glad you went for your appt. Sorry you had to have a biopsy, but better to be sure. If you’re still worried then phone the unit/his sec/a BCN tomorrow and let them know your worries, or the helpline on here is great too for reassurance, but do it tomorrow so you don’t spend all weekend fretting, please.
Maybe he did it that way to save you from extra pain if he had gone through the nipple?? I would have to trust that he knew what he was doing, I would’ve thought they would take care to try and get a good sample to get a quick and sure result.
It’s just a shame we don’t get results a bit quicker, the waiting is the absolute worst, so sending lots of hugs your way, and everything crossed that you get good news soon.
P xxx
hiya , just wanted to echo what the other girls have said , well done for going for your appt, now your mind will go into overtime and you will be thinking allsorts till results come through , thats perfectly normal and nowhere we havent all been and it can feel so depressing at times ,but on the positive side , now you are in the hands of the experts and there is no safer place to be , try and relax and IF there is something there they will do their absolute best to treat it and if there isnt then you can relax but make sure you check your breasts regulary and never ignore anything that is new to your body , good luck - trish xxx