3 years ago: apocrine metaplasia BIRADS3

Hi everyone!

I have not been on this site in 3 years. I honestly was so relieved by my diagnosis of apocrine metaplasia (BIRADS 3) that I put breast cancer totally out of my mind (yet still did my regular checks, etc). My doctors didn't feel any followup imaging was necessary in my case, as I have a cluster of cysts in my right breast and fibrocystic breasts overall. So it has been 3 years since I have been here, and I'm just reaching out for support because unlike last time, this time I'm too scared to talk with any of my family or friends about this issue. If I try, I'll cry, and I don't want to do that just yet.

Since my non-cancer diagnosis, I have continued to have shooting pains from the cluster of cysts in my breast out toward my nipple. When these initially began, I was told to drink less coffee, wear a supportive bra, take advil, etc etc. And so much has happened in my life since then that I was able to ignore the shooting pains. I was also put on hormonal birth control for endometriosis during this time which definitely reduced the pains, but then began having aura migraines and was told to stop taking the hormonal birth control.

So last month I stopped taking it, and shooting breast pains resumed with a vengeance. I thought, okay, now I know it's hormonal, nothing to worry about. Always in the same place, always from the area of my cysts. So I thought nothing of it. Until last week, when I rolled over in bed and something wet came out of my nipple. I expected milk-like, as it usually is when I'm not on birth control, and was absolutely stunned when I found the liquid coming out of one of my ducts was black.

My doctor has ordered an urgent ultrasound and mammogram, with a likely biopsy after they do those.

I guess I'm just really wanting to talk about it, and to talk with others about it, not for reassurance because I know it isn't a great sign... I don't really know. I'm worried and yet I understand I had to know further developments in this were coming. I put it so far out of my mind.

And I also feel like my doctors should have followed up with more imaging sooner. I quite seriously asked my gynecologist three weeks ago if it was time to look at the cysts again and she said no.

I'm not really asking a question I guess. I'm sorry. There has been so much else going on in my life recently that this just stunned me, and I feel completely frozen.

Thank you for listening.