2018 has proved to be a devastating year anyway but the nipple concerns I have now and my forthcoming appointment at the Breast Clinic have really made this an unbearable time.
I’ve recently started taking anti-depressents because of the events of this year (they’re not working yet), realise I am probably am “going over the top” before I actually need to, but have been to see two doctors (one twice) regarding this issue in the last three weeks. They are both aware of my fragile state of mind and are sympathetic. They’ve both examined my breasts and under my arms and can feel no lumps and didnt feel an urgent referral to the Breast Clinic was necessary.
My symptoms are a very sore right nipple. The very top and bottom tips and one side are very red and angry looking. It’s not itching but I am aware of the soreness. No discharge or flaking and the nipple is still very “perky.” Probably because of my anxiety issues I am torturing myself by looking at my nipples in a magnified mirror and scaring myself silly.
I am utterly convinced I’ve got Paget’s disease. Although I know googling can be the worst thing to do - but of course I have - I just don’t know what else this could be. I was literally born with eczema and have had outbreaks of it all over my body throughout my life - from behind my ears to my toes, including both nipples but this is the first time it has occurred in just one place. One doctor did think that the other nipple looked dry too, but it has not developed into anything more than a very slight redness.
I feel ashamed I am posting because I don’t yet know what is wrong, and so many girls here are writing about serious, confirmed conditions, and dealing with them with such strength and fortitude. I am, however, terrified about my appointment next Monday and fear the worst. I am 54, menopausal with no family history of breast cancer. Despite my age, I’ve just lost my Mum who was always such a source of reason and good sense, but I now feel terribly alone. My poor husband is doing his best but he is under a lot of stress.
Any words of reassurance would be appreciated so very much and apologies for my possible premature panic. Not in a good place but I am terribly worried. Thank you.
Hi Bonbon, I’m sorry to hear you are so stressed and worried, it’s an awful place to be and on top of your other anxiety issues it’s so very hard to listen to reason and try and calm yourself down.
Its much more likely to be something non sinister than it is cancer, that is not me fobbing you off that is a straight fact, Pagets is a rare from of breast cancer and of course if you Google your symptoms that will come up as a possibility the same as if you google a breast lump but the majority are nothing to worry about.
You have set the ball rolling with a clinic referral and that is all you can do for now, one thing I have learned over the past few years is no amount of stressing is going to change anything, hours spent googling looking for answers you can’t find will drive you mad, stay away from it, it’s really not your friend!
Take one day at a time, deal with your anxiety issues, give your meds time to work and don’t be so hard on yourself, you’ve had a tough time losing your mum and you need to process that, don’t overload your poor brain with more stress over something that is most likely nothing to worry about, save that until you know if you have anything to worry about about. Xx Jo
Not being sensible at all today although this forum has proved to be so very valuable to me in recent weeks. Waiting for my appointment next week at the Breast Clinic. As per my post below, red painful, inflamed vertical strip right down the front of my nipple, no flaking, no discharge, no inversion but I’m not sure if I am now imagining things.
Husband is now hiding my magnifying mirror, but it is incredible how looking at my boob in different lights makes me spot possible worse things and differences with the other. The areola on the same breast now looks slightly pinker and raised and when my nipples are erect, the areola with the red nipple seems to look much more wrinkled than the other one.
I am not really sure why I am writing this as I now just have to wait - grateful I have an upcoming appointment and will get the best possible care - but after two such worrying and sad events this year, I can’t, right now, stop myself from thinking that bad things always come in three’s. I have neglected myself totally this year as there were other more important things to attend to, and I am now worrying about how long I have actually had this issue.
Forgive me. Ashamed to be so down about something that hasn’t even happened yet. But thank you for allowing me to write about my fears here and to have a rant. Despite my panic today I will get up on the day of the appointment, put my make-up, make sure I look composed and demure and face it.
Thank you again Jobey68, so,so much. You are such a lovely girl. My lovely Mum always used to tell me that if I can put my lipstick on, I can face the world. Next week it will be full-blown “Footballers’ Wives’” pink! You’ve really helped cheer me up. Sending you and everyone else here a big kiss.
I had my appointment at the “Breast” Clinic today and was not impressed by the consultant at all. Reassured by a friend that the doctor I was seeing (and named on my appointment sheet) was wonderful, I felt a bit more confident about going. I think a dose of Diazapam helped too.
Very clearly the person I saw was not the wonderful one. i don’t think he even told me his name or his position. My consultation lasted about 5 minutes, he did a very quick examination and said my nipple looked redder than the other one and that I had to have a mammograph, followed by a biopsy. No pleasantaries, comforting words at all, nor did he ask if I had any questions, discuss what or not this problem might possibly be, or generally make me in any way relieved. No timescale as when further appointments would follow either. I did burst into tears and was offered a tissue so I suppose that’s something. If he is to be my doctor throughout this journey (whatever that may be), then I feel like giving up, and letting whatever will be just happen. I’ve nothing but continual problems and sadness this year and I just don’t feel I have the strength to take on any more worries.
I know he wouldnt have been able to give me a diagnosis, but I did expect a doctor working in such a sensitive field to have a better “bedside manner.” I suppose I just have to wait for an mammogram appointment to arrive in the post now.
Sorry, I’m having another panic tonight. I’ve found out yesterday by phoning the clinic that I have an appointment for a mammogram and biopsy next week. Apparently a letter had been sent but by today I still hadn’t received it. Just as well I called. It will then be three weeks’ since I saw the consultant.
Just a quick question for anyone who has had one - can the biopsy cause pain afterwards? I’m prepared for any pain when it’s done but is it the sort of procedure that may take a few days/weeks to heal from?
Also, although I’ve been so good over the last week or so and not used my magnifying make-up mirror to continually look at my nipple, is it normal for one areola to be bumpier than the other when the nipple is erect and its cold? Both perfectly smooth otherwise. Perhaps I’m over-thinking this before I actually know what is going on and I’ve felt so much braver, but just having a blip tonight. One moment optimistic, the next its all doom and gloom. Apologies for posting again but the waiting is just awful, but I know I’m not alone in this.
Hi Bonbon,
Try not to worry about the biopsy, it’s done under local anaesthetic, so not painful, more a bit of discomfort & for me, my boob just felt a bit bruised afterwards, which resolved within a few days & it didn’t interfere with anything.
I think overthinking everything is fairly common to most of us when feeling anxious
Come & post whenever you need to.
ann x
A big thank you to all of you girls who have taken time and been so thoughtful to respond. It is very heart-warming and I appreciate it more than you can imagine. I am still grieving deeply after losing my Mum this year. She would have been the one to talk some sense into me and the one I would have turned to but she’s gone. Your supportive words are of such encouragement and solace. I will pull myself together again and get through my appointment with lipstick and valium.
I’ll report back whatever the outcome next week - having trawled through this forum myself on countless occasions, to inform myself and to gain strength, it may just be that I can give something back and help someone else. A special thank you to Jobey. xxx
Jobey, you are a Star! Also the other girls who have been so thoughtful to prop me up, especially when I have no diagnosis yet.
But I wanted to post an update - it might maybe help anyone else in my current position - as I had a mammography and MRI today. Both were clear but the consultant (a different, very, very lovely one as opposed to the one I saw before) said that a biopsy had been requested, which I knew anyway, so I have to now wait for that appointment.
Although I know my daily dose of Valium helped me keep calm, I was so reassured by the wonderful staff at the Breast Clinic. I know I am in good hands now and felt very “safe.” Because my anxiety levels have been so high, if my experience today can help alleviate anyone else’s worry for one second about a forthcoming appointment, then I am happy.
I do have one question which I hope someone can answer - can a clear MRI reduce the chance of this being Paget’s? I know that biopsy is the only conclusive way to diagnose (I believe after reading posts on this forum) so not sure how useful an MRI is in excluding any underlying problems? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading this and having been so lovely to me. I will update. xxx
I had a clear mammogram and ultrasound in November, and had been waiting for a nipple biopsy appointment. I received this two weeks ago for the end of February which did seem like a long time to wait. Today I received a rescheduled appointment for this Friday, letter dated yesterday. Maybe I am going over the top again, but I’ve now convinced myself that since November something has been spotted, and it’s urgent hence the much earlier appointment, It is with a different consultant than the original February one.
Husband thinks I am being silly and it’s probably due to availability, cancellations, consultants being away or endless other reasons. Not sure why I feel the need to write this down but I’m not feeling rational at all today. I suppose the one silver lining is that the I won’t be waiting for much longer. I do feel ashamed that I’m in such a state when nothing has been diagnosed yet.
Ho Bonbon,
As Charys says. Please don’t read anything into the new appointment. These things are usually down to meeting KPIs in respect of waiting times. I’m in the NHS & KPIs are now a fact of life. If an appointment comes early, it’s beacause a slot has become available that needs filling.
Thankfully, not so long to wait now.
ann x
ann-m and Charys, my apologies for not thanking you both for taking the time and trouble to offer your reassurances. But, I am very appreciative and thank you so much. It’s so sweet of you.
I had the biopsy today. I saw the same consultant as for my first appointment but today he was absolutely charming. Perhaps he was just having an off day when I saw him before? There is no suspicious reason at all as to why my appointment had been brought forward five weeks. There was a gap (due to cancellations etc) and he said that because he knew I had been so worried, and not in a good place mentally anyway, he fitted me in. Very relieved he was so lovely today, as was the nurse.
Mammo and ultrasound were both clear (despite my mind going into overdrive), but obviously the nipple biopsy was still needed. Consultant doesn’t think its Paget’s but - as I know from this forum - biopsy is the only way to rule out/diagnose Paget’s so will remain cautious. Might get my results next Wednesday, or the following one when the clinic has it’s meeting.
For anyone facing a biopsy, the initial numbing injections were uncomfortable but not enough to make me swear. This is always my guage of how painful something is! I was able to control myself to a few squeaks and an Oh God. Obviously the actual biopsy didnt hurt at all. He removed samples from two places right across the very top of my nipple. Feeling fine until about an hour ago but my nipple is beginning to hurt quite a bit now. Paracetemol will help. I’ve been advised not to go the gym for a few days. All in all it wasn’t a traumatic ordeal and felt very comforted knowing I am in very good hands now. Have a lovely weekend and thank you for being so supportive. xxx
Thank you very much Charys. On Wednesday evening the consultant phoned me. He had told me that the results could be expected either this Wednesday or next. I’m relieved beyond belief that all is fine, no sign of Pagets or anything cancerous, and he is now happy to sign me off. It is just eczema - probably just stress related. I’ll have a look at my nipple when I take the plaster off and probably go back to the doctor if it doesn’t clear up. But I know I am very, very lucky indeed at the moment.
A massive thank you to all of you who have given me such incredible support, despite many of you already having embarked on courageous journeys which I don’t right now have to face. My thoughts are with you all.
I will continue to look at the forum to see how you are doing, and although I am OK, if I could ever offer anyone any support or reassuring words, I would be so happy to try and put something back after your help. My love and positive thoughts to you all.