Diagnostic mammogram Friday due to nipple discharge

Frenchiegal83

Hi everyone, a little about me, 33 y/o mama of two I've had a history of fibroadenomas for several years,,which we monitored for 2 years with 6 month MRIs to ensure lumps were stablized and unchanging. so I'm not new to lumps and bumps in the girls lol, but for the past several months I've noticed clear, to cloudy, to pink nipple discharge from my right breast and an increase in swelling in my lymph nodes in my right armpit. Due to my history of fibroadenomas, my doc and I decided to "wait and see" if anything changed. The color of the discharge changed to pink last week, so I called & got some labs drawn (awaiting results) and I've got a diagnostic mammogram tomorrow. I've been reading online and my nursing textbooks and it doesn't sound like it could be breast cancer, but I just needed to talk to someone about it. My husband is deployed and I really don't want to worry him with any of this until I know for sure what's going on. My kids are 7 & 5 so there's no talking to them and my cohort of nursing students is a great resource but I just don't feel that close to any of them to share.

Thanks for listening to my long winded story!

MTwoman

Jski83, I don't have any helpful information for you, but just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you are going through this increased anxiety about your breast health. I am glad that you are already working with a doctor that you are comfortable with and who knows your breast history. Looks like your diagnostic mammo is today? Hopefully they'll talk you through their findings then and there. If not, post any confusing language here and we'll help. Make sure and tell them you want a written copy of the final report for your own records along with a cd of any imaging (that is your right). That way, if you are ever anywhere else and there are questions, you can provide the info needed for comparison. Good luck for B9 findings!!

jitendra000557

I think you should remain calm and go for the diagnostic mammogram first....you may have abnormalities in breast but that doesn't mean it will lead to cancer...and even if they find any abnormal cells of cancer in diagnostic mammogram...you can go ahead for treatment, if it has not spread into other parts of your body..!!!

Frenchiegal83

Hi everyone, I apologize for the delay in writing, been busy working in the yard. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, the weather can change multiple times, so this weekend I took the opportunity to use the good weather we had to thatch, rake, aerate, re-seed & put a layer of topsoil down in my yard. Planning to turn a lean too into a small greenhouse, I love gardening!

All my blood work was normal except for my vitamin D (again PNW is constantly cloudy, so they said it's a common occurence for Vitamin D to be low) I had my mammogram on Friday and the results came back that everything was normal and maybe it's just that the ducts have become dilated and will sometimes leak, apparently that can just happen and that will be your new normal? Totally stoked when I got the news, it was like a huge relief. Then I get a call from the nurse practitioner yesterday as a follow up. They had in my records that it was discharge from both nipples, once I explained that it has always been isolated to the right and that it was spontaneous, she decided to be thorough and we will do an MRI just to make sure, as well as measure my prolactin levels. My question is, can your lab work and mammogram be normal but your MRI show something else? I honestly think that I'm going to be fine, maybe it's galactorrhea or something, but it just has me curious as to why order an MRI if everything else has been normal?

I truly appreciate the love & support you all have shown me.

MTwoman

MRI's can sometimes "see" things that mammo and us don't, especially with dense breasts. I think an mri as a decision to be thorough makes sense, no need to get alarmed by that referral alone. And the prolactin levels will give you info to rule out galactorrhea, if the mri shows nothing. Glad your practitioner is on it and being thorough. Enjoy getting your garden and greenhouse ready, but I'd go through with the testing just to be certain.

Frenchiegal83

Thank you for the reassurance, I'm trying to think positive thoughts that it's going to turn out fine. I've had them in the past and they're just being thorough, but gotta be honest it's still hard to quiet that nagging "what if" in the back on my mind Trying to stay busy with homework and such Thanks again for the reassurance, it's really nice to have someone to talk to!

Lynnee

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hi!

I was reading your story and it's very similar to mine. I noticed my first discharge while getting a mammogram done. The mammogram saw nothing and they immediately did an ultrasound that found the same. That was last august2016. Since then I've been checking (maybe a bit too much) to see if the other would express any. It eventually did. I notice it's easier to get it to come out when I'm warm. After workout, or working In Yard etc. they hand to be compressed . Just Saturday night, I hadn't woken up sweating. Very hot. I got up to go to to washroom and noticed a round wet spot on my right nipple on my shirt

Monday I went and saw my breast specialist and she did another ultrasound. Saw nothing but did notice my ducts were dialated a bit more then my left. Sending me for MRI on sunday(Easter!)

I'm beyond scared. I cannot manage to keep my mind occupied and I'm constantly thinking and worried about it:(. I can't even eat. Very intense anxiety.

I was wondering how your MRI went?

Frenchiegal83

Hi Lynne, I'm very sorry you're having to go through this & get your MRI done on Easter, but I'm glad you're able to get it done sooner, the waiting is the hardest part it seems. Due to having to be between 7-10 days after the first day of my period, I won't be able to have an MRI until May.

For my breast issue, it spontaneously leaks, I can sometimes feel it, like when you breastfeed & feel the milk let down" or I'll find a couple spots on my bra. I've seen it when I bend over or when I getting ready to jump in the shower it comes out of the same spot. Are you getting it from both sides or just one? Is it bloody, milky, clear? My breast specialist said that often the ducts can dilate due to horomones, that it's a somewhat normal thing & we are doing the MRI to be safe. Can you ask your doctor to do labs to check thyroid, parathyroid and other lab values to see if it could be related to that

Michelle_in_cornland

JSki83, how old are your children? Are you taking any type of hormones, eating soy etc? My sister had a situation, and she was pregnant.

Frenchiegal83

Hi Michelle, no I've had regular periods each month, as well I have Paraguard & my husband has been deployed since January. They also tested for it with all my labwork, but that was a good thought. My kids are 7 & 5, haven't breastfed for several years now.

MTwoman

Did they test your prolactin levels?

Frenchiegal83

Yes my Prolactin levels were normal

Frenchiegal83

So if all my levels were normal, then it's probably just that my ducts are going to be more dilated than normal? I feel like if everything is normal, the MRI is just a thorough check. For those of you found out you had cancer, were there other labs done that were abnormal?

MTwoman

Labwork isn't typically done for breast cancer work up. It is imaging, and biopsy.

Frenchiegal83

Ok well that's good to know, I really appreciate everyone's input, it's making me feel more comfortable with what is happening.

kmartin3243

Hoping everything turns out well for you. Keeping you in my thoughts

Frenchiegal83

So I received my results back, and talked to the NP yesterday. She said that I have to follow up in 6 months with another MRI to make sure my intramammary lymph nodes stay stable. Often I can feel the axillary lymph nodes (under right armpit) become enlarged/tender during my period or right before but she said I wouldn't be able to feel the intramammary ones. I'm assuming that they're enlarged due to horomones, but if anyone else has any info, I'd appreciate the feedback.

Here's a copy of the report

FINDINGS: Breast Density: Heterogeneous fibroglandular tissue. Background parenchymal enhancement: Moderate.

RIGHT AND LEFT BREAST: Presumed intramammary lymph nodes are seen within the upper aspect of the bilateral breasts. There are no concerning masses or areas of nonmass enhancement.

AXILLA: There is no adenopathy.

IMAGED CHEST & UPPER ABDOMEN: Unremarkable

IMPRESSION: 1. No MRI findings to the patient's symptoms. 2. Presumed bilateral intramammary lymph nodes, though a one time 6 month followup breast MRI is recommended to ensure stability. 3. MR BI-RADS 3: Probably Benign Finding-Short-Interval Follow-Up Suggested.

MTwoman

that's great news Jski83, thanks for sharing!

Frenchiegal83

Thanks MTwoman, I completely agree Hope you are doing well and thank you for the support!