Bloody nipple discahrge?

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msbek812
msbek812 Member Posts: 9

In August of 2008 I had a duct excision. I was experiancing bloody discharge. The discharge was a dark rusty color and appeared to be coming from two ducts in the left breast. No papilloma was seen even though my surgeon said the majority of cases are due to a papilloma. The blood was seen in only one of the ducts during the duct excision  therefore that duct was excised and carried down about 1cm beneath the nipple. The biopsy from the duct excision showed florid ductal hyerplasia, fibrocystic change consisting of stromal fibrosis, apocrine metaplasia, duct ectasia, and intraductal papillamatosis. I have had fibrocystic issues for years and develope multiple cysts that have progressed to being present always and not just cyclic. I have always had nipple discharge that has occurred since I was about 18. I am now 36. The discharge has always been a clear yellow, or a milky yellowish color and has come from both breasts. I have had 9 needle biopsies since June 2006. I had one surgical excision done that was determined to be a fibroadenoma. I now have two more fibroadenomas. I had a core biopsy done last April, in 2008 for a mass seen in the left breast on an MRI.  The mass has to be rescanned every six months. I have been diagnosed as having proliferative breast disease. It has been explained to me that as of yet my biopsies come back as not normal cells however not yet cancer. My personal breast issues have placed me in a high risk category is what I have been told. I am currently due for another ultrasound and mammogram as a follow up for the left breast mass. I am now, yet once again having bloody discharge coming from my left breast. After the duct excision that was done last August, 2008 , I had noticed a few times that I still had the bloody discharge but recently it has become more frequent and in larger amounts. Is it normal to still have have the bloody discharge in a breast after having had a duct excision?

Comments

  • lynnea
    lynnea Member Posts: 226
    edited May 2009

    Hi-welcome to the board. I don't know if you are aware that there is another thread on the Not Diagnosed but Worried  Forum on this topic. From what I have read on other people's post that there is no gaurantee that a duct excision will stop a discharge. Some one commented that that was what her surgeon told her. Hope this is helpful, please check it out,   Lynne

  • msbek812
    msbek812 Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2009

    No I was not aware of that and thank you. I will try to find that thread. I assumed it would take care of things but never actually asked. When I called the office to tell them that I was again having the discharge I then asked if it was normal or typical and she told me no. I have an appointment coming up the 3rd of June after I have my mammogram and ultrasound for the follow up regarding the mass in the left breast seen in the fall and I will find out then. I am not looking forward to another excision/biopsy however I was told when I scheduled the appointment that I would be having one. I was actually suppose to have a double mastectomy with reconstruction December 30, 2008, however my husband lost his job on the 23rd and our insurance was cancelled on the 28th due to the job loss. I am just worried and scared at this point.

  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited May 2009

    Of course you are worred and scared.  Who wouldn't be.  That really sucks to lose your insurance.  I live in fear of that happening.  Good luck on your next appointment.  My cancer started with bloody nipple discharge - I elected a double mastectomy with reconstruction - one mastectomy was supposed to be prophylactic but it turned out to have DCIS too.  Not to scare you further but the breast with the bloody nipple discharge showed normal on both a mammagram and an ultrasound.  It was not until I had a MRI that it reared its ugly head.  The other breast, even though it had DCIS, showed nothing on any test.

  • msbek812
    msbek812 Member Posts: 9
    edited May 2009

    I have had the MRI's and it was not fun... the last one I was given a Bi-Rads code 4 because of  the solid mass, it was also noted that I have too much breast density which is the reason I have been sent so many times for an MRI. Mammograms are not good for me because of breast density blah blah ... I cannot win. The last MRI lasted for an hour and 20 mins before I was pulled out due to intolerance. Laying face down that long and remaining still is not an easy task ! I was repeatedly told I was breathing to heavy causing movement (face down with my face in a pillow, how do you breathe?), and after that long laying I started having twitches in my arms and leg. Once the contrast was injected, after a few minutes my chest felt like it was burning... I could not take it anymore ! My mother died almost three years ago just 2 months after turning 51. She was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma, unknown primary. Her oncologist felt it was likely a primary breast cancer however they were unable to prove a primary tumor. She also believed my mother had this disease for approx. 5 to 8 years. I belive the assumption of breast cancer  was based on tumor marker tests and the areas affected. The week she passed away her sister, age 54 was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, DCIS, proliferative breast disease, etc... She had a double mastectomy a few months later. My aunt never had a lump/tumor it was mixed in the tissue. She had a stereotactic biopsy and seven samples were taken, only 3 showed the cancer. Thier older sister passed away two years before my mother. She too had metastatic adenocarcinoma , unknown primary. She had a breast biopsy done about 8 months prior to her diagnosed cancer in which they said it was calcifications and fibrocystic changes. She passed at away at the age of 56. There is a strong family history of thyroid disease and diabetes in all the females in my mother's family. My mother was not diabetic. There is one other girl in my mom's family that has not had any issues as of yet. The difference between her an them is she had a complete hysterectomy including ovaries at age 41. I strongly believe that these problems are hormone related and in some way play a part in all of this. I personally by the grace of GOD have two children, boys... however at age 26 I found out I was infertile and wouldnot have any more children this was a year after delivering my second son. I had a hysterectomy a few years ago but my ovaries were left due to age ( 33 ). I won't even touch on those issues and the problems I have had. Unfortunately my mother nor my 2 aunts were tested for a genetic breast/ovarian cancer gene. Thier cousin was just diagnosed in November with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She is 50. I guess it is in the "genes". despite no "proof"

  • kmccraw423
    kmccraw423 Member Posts: 3,596
    edited May 2009

    You poor thing.  And I thought I had a bad gene pool.  Please, please take care of yourself.  I am a diabetic too and honestly feel like the diabetes is more of a problem than breast cancer.  God bless you - here's hoping everything works out.

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