Flat nipples 1 year after breastfeeding

Nikki001

I noticed both of my nipples have gone flat.

They seem slightly inverted and when a lay down there appears to be a slight dip where my nipples are on both sides.

I read that this could be from breastfeeding?

I fed my son for almost a year. I stopped breastfeeding around September of last year.

I ended with a case of mastitis in my left breast. Successfully treated with meds.

I'm wondering should I get my breast checked out immediately?

I have my annual mammogram coming up in june. Should I just wait for that?

Is this something to be concerned about?

Beesie

Have you asked this question on a breast-feeding site? Seems you are likely to get better answers there than on a breast cancer site.

One of the general rules of thumb about what to watch for with breast cancer symptoms is that they tend to be changes that occur to one breast only. What you describe sounds much more likely to be from breastfeeding or post-breastfeeding hormonal changes.

Nikki001

Hi Beesie,

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer. Your time and response is really appreciated and it makes sense.

I'd like to additionally share I'm a member here because I want to become educated about what to look out for as well as have an intrinsic understanding of breast cancer concepts as there is alot of misinformation out there.

Thanks again

Beesie

Have you joined a heart disease discussion board too? Because more women die of heart disease than of breast cancer, and it is even more misunderstood that breast cancer.

If you want to learn about breast cancer, there are many excellent websites, including the information pages on this site. The role of the discussion board is to "provide a free, vibrant, and supportive community of people either diagnosed with breast cancer or concerned about a breast condition, as well as their support persons". Because the focus is on individual issues and concerns, the discussion board is not the right place to come for a general education about breast cancer. And while I appreciate that your intent is genuine and that this is not at all what you mean, your explanation for why you are a member here sounds a bit voyeuristic, as though you want to observe and learn about the animals at the zoo.

I hope you find the answers you are looking for on a breast-feeding / post-pregnancy website. And I truly hope that you never have a reason to really need the support here. This is the club that none of the members wanted to join.

Nikki001

I sincerely hope this is not your approach to helping others with sincere questions on breast concerns.

I am genuinely concerned about the state of my breast and It's very difficult to get an appointment right now because of COVID-19 and I cant help but to wonder if you have run someone else off with the undertone of your messages.

I hope this response gets you to remember that people come here for answers, education and help. Not criticism.

Gentle reminder to you that this is a public facing site intended to educate people and this is a thread called "Not Diagnosed but Concerned" all of which I and my question fit very appropriately.

Elephant

Nikki001: is there any history of breast cancer in your family? if there is or if you see more changes in your breasts, then I think that you should try and see someone before your June mammogram.

Nikki001

Unfortunately yes. My cousin had breast cancer.

I just called and it's a no go...they arent going to move me up. I called my obgyn to see if they could see me but no one is picking up so I left a message...Hopefully they will get to me today

I'm staying calm thinking that because this shows in both breast it is likely hormonal as beesie said.

The only other thing I have is a little tenderness underneath both arms...but I have recently gotten back on my elliptical...so I'm assuming that's it.

Beesie

Nikki, I realize that you have a genuine concern about your breasts, and that is exactly what this discussion board is for. I addressed your question and offered up a suggestion that you thanked me for.

Approx. 85% of breast cancers are spontaneous and not genetically inherited. A cousin is a 3rd degree relative (parents/siblings are 1st degree, grandparents/aunts/uncles are 2nd degree) and a single case of breast cancer in a cousin, with no other breast cancer or related cancers in that line of the family, would not likely increase your breast cancer risk. Is there any ovarian cancer or prostate cancer on that side of your family? Those are the other cancers most often genetically related to breast cancer.

I was not meaning to be rude in my previous comment but you mentioned that you joined here because you "want to become educated about what to look out for as well as have an intrinsic understanding of breast cancer concepts" and I thought it was important to explain that the discussion board (as opposed to the information pages on the BCO site) is not the best place to come for an education about breast cancer. What is discussed here is very specific to individual concerns - the discussion board is not a general breast cancer education site. Separately, having been on this site for so many years, I was also making the point that while we all know that this is a public board, many members wish that it wasn't and are uncomfortable being on display with our very personal and private health and emotional concerns. This is an area of sensitivity for many, and your comment raised that concern in my mind. As I said in my previous post, I realize that you didn't mean your comment in the way that I was interpreting it, but I wanted to make you aware of this sensitivity. Perhaps I shouldn't have done that but I've seen this issue explode many times over the years.

Have you gone onto a breastfeeding / post-pregnancy website to ask about your concerns there? I really hope you do and that you find answers that reassure you that nothing of concern is going on. And I truly hope that nothing of concern is going on and that your flattened nipples are the result of breast feeding and hormones.

Nikki001

No problem at all and thank you for understanding that my inquiry was genuine. I too apologize if any of my previous correspondences indicated anything other than an inquiry for help as it was not my intention.

If things were normal right now I would have just gone into the doctors office to better understand what I'm seeing. Your advice to check out a breastfeeding site was taken.

Thank you Beesie.