I went to hospital today ( I have black sticky discharge from one duct but white stickey from the other breast) and Im going in hospital as an inpatient over night next weds for a Hadfields operation.
I know that its probably all going to work out all ok, and the consultant said that only very slight chance of anything more sinister, but just worried at the speed of seeing the consultant to having the op.
Also dont know what to expect? I have my pre op next week where I am sure they will advise me on everything but going mad googling trying to find out info?
Hi Carrie,
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care chat forums, I’m sure you’ll get lots of support from the many informed users of this site, but while you are waiting for replies I just wanted to let you know that the BCC helpline staff are here to support you. If you would like to give them a ring and have a chat I’m sure they will be able to put you at ease as to what to expect when you go to hospital. The staff on the helpline are all either breast care nurses or people who have personal experience of breast care issues. Calls to the helpline are free, lines open Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm and Sat 9am to 2pm, 0808 800 6000.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi
I had a a clear nippple discharge, Oct 2008. From an appointment with the doctor, then to breast clinic at the hospital to my op in day surgery was about 10 days. I worried about how quick it all happened but I think its good that they don’t mess about just incase. I too spent hours on Google!
I didn’t have a Hadfields, I got away with a microductectomy which removes just the problem duct. I got my results recently and it turned out to be benign breast changes and atypical ductal hyperplasia (abnormal changes but not cancer). It means I am now slightly higher risk as far as developing breast cancer but the hospital are going to be seeing me twice a year until I’m 50.
The op was not too bad, a little uncomfortable for about 5 days then I went back to work ok. My scar is fading nicely, it just looks like my left nipple has a smile :o)
It is a bit scarey, and it was my first general anaesthetic but I got through it and the op didn’t take too long and I went home in the evening.
Try not to worry, I’m sure you will be fine, best wishes.
Bats x
hi girls i to have to have a hadfields procedure i have a chronic abcess with fistula not sure what all that means but carrie if you could let me know how you got on i would really appreciate it thanks bablicious
I had hadfields procedure following chronic abscess and fistula too (last July). Basically, they take out the whole milk duct system under the nipple, so you can’t breast feed on that breast (if that’s an issue for you - it was for me). However, aside from a thin scar line around the nipple (and an inverted nipple, but then it was anyway) mine looks similar to before
I had day surgery and I took about a week off to recover. It did take quite a while for the infection to clear up (nearly six months!) but it has settled down and now for the first time in 18 months, I am genuinely free of breast infection.
When I had the problem I didn’t find anybody else who had it, and I found it quite a stressful experience (of course it is nothing like cancer, but breast abscesses are apparently notoriously stubborn when it comes to getting rid of them). If you want to talk to me about it, I’d be very happy to. Clare
hi bowers thank you so much for replying to my post did you get out same day, i am hoping to although they said may be overnight.I have had this infection since may last year so am very hopeful that this would be the last of itand i can return to normal.my nipple is inverted also and i didnt have that before, do they remove the abcess as well? I SHOULD HAVE ASKED MORE QUESTIONS but was just so relieved that they were finaly going to do something i have had so many antibiotics and drainage i didnt think it was ever going to go away. i have been on new drugs now for 10 days and surgery tomorow so fingers crossed. thanks bablicious
Hi bablicious!
I got out the same day. They said the same to me about the overnight stay - I think it depends if they have to cut out enough tissue to have to have a drain, but they didn’t for me.
They take out the abscess and the fistula too. Basically, what happens after a while when you have a chronic abscess like we’ve both had, is that the cells on the wall of the inside of the abscess change, and the fistula, the little tract where it weeps out, has different cells too. So they cut it all out to allow the normal tissue to knit together. and because the milk ducts are gone, there isn’t anything left to constantly aggravate the tissue and cause infection any more.
Also, they test the tissue for cancer cells, but generally they said it is just a precaution. There is a very slightly raised risk of cancer with these things (not because the infection ‘causes’ cancer in any way but because very occasionally it is masking it), but it really is only slight I think - they just take the chance to do a biopsy.
I had the same as you - months and months of antibiotics and drainage, just again and again, and I really felt I’d have the thing forever. When I first got diagnosed with an infection, I was so relieved it wasn’t cancer, that I didn’t stop to think what a drama it would be! It really gets you down, doesn’t it? and abscess is so tiring and frankly gross - it felt to me like I was taking drugs as though they were sweeties and it just wasn’t going away.
If I were you, I’d be prepared for it to take a little while to settle down afterwards. You might be lucky and it might go straight away, but it took a while for me, and there was quite a lot of weeping and drainage from the wound, which nobody warned me about (good old hospital!). But it went in the end, it went, thank goodness: apparently it usually does! I must have been at the breast unit 20 times over that whole period
Anyhow - I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow, and just remember that although the surgery is a bummer, it may be the end of the whole horrible saga…
hi bowers I had to stay overnight no drain though feels good not much pain but 3 incisions dont know what happens next i assume they will send for me in a few weeks for check up. have been told to watch out for nipple going black heat or pain to get in touch with ward straight away that kind of scared me however so far so good thanks for your support bablicious
Well here’s to a speedy recovery - hope the follow up visit to hospital is your last…