Retracting Nipple

Hey guys,
I have been reading the advice to other ladies and it’s helping a lot …I just have a few concerns. I was at the doctors this week about my hypothyroidism combined with postnatal check though my 2nd daughter is 10 weeks. I built up the courage to mention my retracted nipple which had gotten worse post pregnancy and i stopped breastfeeding early as it was painful on the left breast. I didnt have this trouble with my previous daughter 2 years ago. The doctor and a nurse examined me and can’t find any lumps but he referred me to the breaat clinic as a precaution. I know that a suddenly inverted nipple could be a signal of cancer but may also likely be duct ectasia which of course i’m hoping for! I’m just wondering if anyone has had symptoms like diarhoea which I have been plagued with for over a year. I’m trying not to over read into everything, just as the days go on, i become more worried and even trying to remember when my left nipple was naturally erect! I think this page is fantastic with lovely strong ladies xx

Hi Kitsy,when is your appointment at breast clinic ?Hopefully soon and you will get some reassurance .Its very easy to start over analysing other aches and pains and symptoms when are so worried but very unlikely to be related and anxiety heightens everything .Good luck .Jill.

My appointment is for the 22nd March and it’s a one stop clinic so should have a diagnosis at the end of that day. I am really trying to stay positive and if i am on google it’s to research duct ectasia and other benign conditions that affect the nipple! The only person i have mentioned it to has been the partner …and he had a good look last night and there is a definite nipple problem with one side of the nipple inverted and the other side getting pulled in. Unfortunately he won’t be able to come to the appointment with me as i want him to take a day off to look after our young children. I really dont want to worry anyone else unfairly, on one hand i think everything is fine and on the other I think…but what if it’s not? So i definitely understand the anxiety part…actually feel calmer that i dont have to wait an eternity for an appointment! Thanks for your reply jill x

Good that it’s not long off.Have you no-one else who can go with you for morale support ?They do pretty much tell you on the day what they are looking at ,better to have some company .Most referrals to breast clinic turn out to have non sinister explanations for breast changes so the odds are on your side .

Is it bad that I will probably go on my own? My thinking is that i will have an inkling of whether it will be bad news by body language and other cues, and if so i can ring and get someone there for the final meeting …i live 10 minutes to one side of the hospital and my mum and sister live 5 minutes from the other side , although it would be a bit of a shock if i ring them out of the blue. I guess i need to tell someone else! I made the mistake of looking at images of pagets disease of the nipple and of duct ectasia and it really looks more like pagets, but hat is so rare… i have to stay away from google!! Just going to keep myself busy til next week which shouldnt be hard with a toddler and a baby xx

I know you don’t want to worry people but it would be good for you to have some support .We are all guilty of “googling” and scaring ourselves silly hard not to be obsessed by it but try and give yourself a break from the cancer thoughts for a few days and keep busy .Only the experts with the benefit of mammogram etc will really know what’s going on inside.

I am at the breast clinic now…alone, but loads of lovely ladies here…just had the consultation and he could feel no lumps. Had a mammogram, which wasn’t bad at all and waiting now for ultrasound. The consultant isnt worried, he says…so i’m not too worried…hoping its all over soon with good results x

Fingers and toes crossed for you

wow that’s great hope the other results are also satisfactory …

Yes all satisfactory!! Consultant said there is no cancer there and that he reckons it is a case of duct ectasia pulling the nipple in thank god! Although i dont know if that will get worse, i can cope with one inverted nipple and will continue to be breast aware! Thank you ladies and best wishes to everyone that finds themselves here xx

Great news!!