Changes in nipple.. advice please

Pantobabe

hello everyone,

I’m 28 years old and a first time poster. A few days ago I noticed changes in my left nipple, which involved crusting and ‘scaleyness’. I never saw any liquid discharge from the nipple but it must have dried and then that is what I saw because it seemed to be dried yellow.

Having private medical insurance I booked an appointment for the breast clinic to see a breast surgeon who I saw three years before for a lump that was a cyst. He looked at the nipple and said he could see some ulceration. He sent me for an ultrasound of the nipple ‘just to be sure’ (In his words) which didn’t detect a lump or mass or anything under the nipple. He told me not to worry and that this could be eczema so has given me a 0.1% steroid cream to have for three weeks. I’ve never suffered with eczema and didn’t think that would cause weepiness.

He said he wants to see me again in 6 weeks and if it hasn’t gone he will perform a punch biopsy to test for pagets but he doesn’t think it likely at all. I’m now sat here worried out of my mind (after googling and matching all the symptoms- I suffer from health anxiety) that I should have the biopsy done now not in 6 weeks time because by then it may be too late.

Should I listen to the Doctors advice or should I push for one now?

Thanks for your help- I’m so frightened but everyone in my family just tells me to stop worrying and trust the doctor so I don’t know where else to turn. There’s no family history of BC.

X

MelissaDallas

I would listen to the doctor and try what he says.

MBPooch

Hi Pantobabe - Sorry to hear you're feeling uneasy. Give the steroid cream a chance to work then listen to your body. The good news is that Pagets is very slow to progress so waiting a few extra weeks will not change your diagnosis. You may find that the steroid cream does the trick. Pagets is rare and coupled with your age the odds are slim that's what it is. I first noticed symptoms like what you're describing over 4th of July last year and didn't get my Pagets diagnosis until mid October. I tried cream after cream and a steroid shot, I was 45 and no one thought that's what it could be, I also have no family history of BC. I do wish I would have listened to my body sooner but waiting those 3 months didn't change anything. Just be proactive if your symptoms continue despite the steroid cream.

mustlovepoodles

I third what everyone else is saying. There is no need to rush into a biopsy, which has its own set of issues. Follow your doctor's advice and use the steroid cream for 6 weeks. If the cream works you may not even need a punch biopsy! At any rate, 6 weeks isn't going to make or break anything.