Pale nipple

percy4 · March 2014

I just finished rads 2 wks. ago. Just a good "tan", very pink, bumpy, hurt a bit, at first, but very good skin holding-up, in general. Now, my browned nipple/aurela has peeled and left a normal colored nipple, but a blanched aurela, making the radiated side look noticable smaller. I put a pinky-brown lipstick on the aurela area, and see that it makes everything look normal. Has anyone had the blanching, does it pass (when?) and what about a colorizing tattoo? I do care very much more that my small BC has been addressed, but also care about this, as I am single, and the breast, though a bit smaller really, looks normal otherwise, and do not want to be reminded everytime I look in the mirror about this hard experience. Usually Post in the DCIS secton, and hope that my sisters with higher-staged cancers will not mind, but this matters to me. Any experiences?

TB90 · March 2014

Hi Percy: Well this is just not what you wanted. I have nothing to suggest but hope others come on board with experience with this. Must have happened to others before you. Hope it resolves itself. xxxx

percy4 · March 2014

Everytime I Post on Rads, almost no one answers. That's why I haven't Posted here much. Can anyone tell me anything?

Solen · March 2014

my nipple was lighter after rads (and smaller than other side) and that didn't go away in 13 years.

Individually, my breasts both looked fine, but they were not a matched pair. If it bothers you a lot you could ask a plastic surgeon about tattoo. But keep in mind radiated tissue is more at risk for infection, so just be sure your body is not allergic to tattoo ink ( I have lots of skin allergies ESP to all things red or pink, so if I do a tattoo I would test it elsewhere first, that might just be me!)

I speak of my breasts in the past, as I had a BMX recently and their lack of matching is no longer an issue! LOL! I do not answer your post with bitterness, I understand your concern. It is funny how the nipple ends up " blanched". I have been married forever, my husband and I have been through a lot, my funny boob was never an issue. But I may have been self conscious of it if I were dating. Wish you the best, whatever you choose.

percy4 · March 2014

Thank you, Dear, for responding. xx

Sunone · March 2014

I had radiation 4 1/2 years ago on the left side, nipple and areola definitely a lighter color. I think you may be able to get a tattoo for color as many women who get radiation and then skin sparing mastectomy with reconstruction do get areola tattoos. I will be getting BMX with Diep reconstruction which will include areola tattoos.

lane4 · March 2014

Hi, Percy - Interestingly, I've not seen many people comment on this issue, so I thought I was just weird. During rads, my nipple and areola turned dark brown. I have a pale complexion and my areolae are naturally pink. So I asked my RO if it would eventually fade back to pink and he said it would. The brown did fade, not back to pink, but to almost no pigment. And yes, it was smaller, but so was my breast. Now I'm 4 years out and the areola is so light, I almost can't find the border. I don't like the look, but my husband is not bothered by it and it bothers me less as time goes by. But I hear what you're saying about not wanting to be reminded of this chapter in your life every time you look in the mirror. Makes it hard to move forward.

percy4 · March 2014

Thanks, Dear. Yes; well, I am single and I am happy my BC was so low-staged and great prognosis. I researched rads a lot before deciding to proceed. I found it was best for me. I got that there are near and long side effects. Near could be bad skin stuff, fatique (which I didn't get) and far could be possible increased lung cancer (remote) possible rib issues as bones grow older, and maybe shrinkage over time, which I was most worried about and still am, as it was already the smaller breast. The surgeon was great, very little dent, but any more shrinkage (which I was told I won't really know for 6 mo to 2 years) can happen. Hope not. This, I was not prepared for. I trust my sisters here to not discriminate between a higher-staged cancer with all the awful things about that, and my own concerns with a lower-staged BC. That's what's great about this place. I still have to always worry about BC in any future screenings, which is hard enough (scares me to death), but right now, this is the thing. My skin held up well, but after the peeling, I have almost no aurela on the treated side. The fact that the one side is smaller would not be so noticeable, except for the fact that I have one normal aurela, and on the other side just a bright-pink nipple, and NO aurela around. This is (not what I expected) the thing that is making the treated breast look so different. I know you can't really know how you'll look till later, but I'm pretty much thinking that the no aurela pigment isn't going to come back. I will do the minor teatment of a tiny aurela tattoo if I have to, but, really, so weird (and if HMO does not pay for that as reconstruction, cannot afford it). I put a pinky-brown lipstick to show an aurela on the treated side, and it made the whole thing look normal; could not really notice that it was smaller. Just want to look/feel as normal as I can, as I just want to, and also, very much, do not want to be reminded. Thank you. xx

percy4 · March 2014

Truth is, I'm afraid. BC recurs more than other cancers, and I'm afraid of even thinking this is over, and getting attached to my breast. The look does matter to me, but, really, I'm afraid, and don't know how to move on, not knowing what will happen in future. Of course, treatment just ended weeks ago; maybe I will feel less afraid in a while.

Pale nipple

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