Are Both Inverted & Retracted Nipples Possible Signs Of BC?

sheellah
sheellah Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
Are Both Inverted & Retracted Nipples Possible Signs Of BC?
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  • sheellah
    sheellah Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2009
    They are two different things though. Some sites say you have to be just worried about retracted nipples. If it's a mass in the breast pulling the nipple inward wouldn't it not come out again? I just found an inverted nipple on my 91 yo mom. It does come out on it's own sometimes. I can't feel any lumps in the breast or under her arm. There is no discharge, swelling, redness, itchiness or feeling of warmth. Would anyone know if nipple inversions are more common in the elderly?

    Can an inverted nipple be a sign of regular BC or is it just a possible symptom of inflammatory BC? Did anyone who had an inverted nipple that came out again, still turn out to have BC? Going to have it checked as soon as I can get an appt. for her.

    Would appreciate any info on this. Been searching the net for days! Thanks!
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  • honeygirl
    honeygirl Member Posts: 1,718
    edited November 2009

    Sheellah , Hi and welcome! Sorry to hear you are so worried about your mom. But it is very understandable. I can tell you of my own experience. First I want to say , my niece has retracted nipples. She has had them since birth. So if you are born this way , it is not serious. Just a condition some have. In my case , I noticed my nipple inverting. I could bring it back out , but it wouldn't stay. I could not find a lump , and my gyn couldn't either. My mammo found it. It was directly under my nipple , and was hard to detect without actually manipulating the nipple to one side and then feeling for it. My BC was IDC. That was two years ago , I had a mastectomy , reconstruction , and chemo , and I am fine. I have read of a couple of ladies who had inverted nipples , and it was a benign condition. I would definately tell your mom's doc and see what they say. Good luck to you and your mom. I hope it all turns out benign! Melody

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  • sheellah
    sheellah Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2009

    Thanks so much Melody. I've sorry you had to go through all that. You women are so brave here. I don't think I could survive all that you have gone through, but I'm glad it's behind you now. Your answer is not what I wanted to hear as it took some of my hope away, but I needed to hear it. I had thought just a retracted nipple was a bad sign. I'm going to see if I can move my mom's nipple to the side and feel it again. I just noticed it recently so if there is anything I hope it hasn't been going on too long. She seems fine otherwise but has pretty advanced Alzheimers.

    Thanks again for taking the time to respond. I will try and stay positive and hope for the best.

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  • sweatyspice
    sweatyspice Member Posts: 922
    edited November 2009

    I've had one - not sure if it's technically "inverted" or "retracted" (I don't understand what the difference is) - since birth.  Sometimes it's out, sometimes it's in.  It's always been quirky that way. 

    (The quirky nip is in my healthy breast BTW)

    I agree that if you've always been that way, there's no real reason for concern.  If it's a new development it's more suspicious.

    Still, just because it's more suspicious doesn't automatically make it BC.  One step at a time.

    Wishing you and your mom the best!!!

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  • honeygirl
    honeygirl Member Posts: 1,718
    edited November 2009

    Sheellah , You are very welcome. I know it is scary going through this , but it is best to find out as soon as you can. Did you try to feel for a lump under her nipple? Its just hard to do , cause usually manipulating the nipple/areola area tends to make it hard , and thats why it was diffucult to find by hand.And again , this may be nothing , but it is a symtom that should be looked at.

    Please keep us posted and let us know how it turns out. Praying for b9 results! Melody

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  • sheellah
    sheellah Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2009

    Thanks everyone. It's actually been looking better with the nipple being out most of the time. I've felt it over and over and nothing is there. All that's there is a small horizontal 1/4" long indentation above the nipple. Inside that it a small irritation about the size of a pinhead. I wonder if that's whats pulling that area in. She keeps picking at her face and body all over as she has lots of sun damage and it gets scabby. Going to watch it for another week or so. I read that if it is something BC is much less aggresive in the elderly, and slower growing. If it doesn't look any better then I'm taking her to an OBGYN.

    Thanks again! 

    BTW: Drug companies are scrambling for a way to make their own propietary versions of tumeric so they can charge high prices. It's supposed to be very effective in preventing, and helping cancer once you have it.1,800 mg to 3,600 mg a day were the study amounts. They say it's better than some current cancer drugs with no toxicity. Goes by the name Curcumin. Cheap, and surely can't hurt. Get the 900 mg. version and take 2-3 a day. Does so many miraculous, and positive things in the body. BC rates are much lower in India where they use a lot of it. Check it out on the net.

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  • Wildflowerbill
    Wildflowerbill Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2009

    My wife is 70, on hospice with only days or possibly weeks to live.  She had inverted nipples.  In 1975 she had breast cancer.  One radical was done, and a few weeks later the other breast was removed, but that nipple was left.  In 2006 she had stage 4 ovarian cancer...now in remission.  In 2008 she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.  This did appear on the side the nipple was left.  It would be nice to see if there have been any studies about this connection.  I can supply history and data on my wife if it would help science to get another step up on this terrible IBC.  When you get this one, it does not offer a lot of hope.

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  • sheellah
    sheellah Member Posts: 5
    edited December 2009

    Honeygirl, one other question. My mom's caretaker who is with her most of the time tells me her nipple is out most of the time. When it is it's looks almost normal with a small slit on the upper part of it. You mentioned you could bring it out, but was it ever out on it's own at all? It's just hard to bring my mom out in this cold weather, and I'm trying to get some info before I make that appt. for her. I can't find any lumps, nor can her caretaker.  Thanks again!

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