Is there any point in requesting a second opinion?

Options
allie86
allie86 Member Posts: 2
edited August 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hi everyone, first time poster. I went to see my gp on Monday about some unilateral spontaneous nipple discharge and itchiness, and localised aches and sometimes sharp pain in my left breast, she didn't find a lump so wasn't really concerned but sent me for a ultrasound and prolactin serum blood test just as routine (so she said). When I went in for the scan on Tuesday the radiologist made a comment about my ducts, saying “I can see some ducts..." but then didn't measure anything and said “looks pretty normal". But I just have this gut feeling like something isn't right, my breast feels different and even though the gp did ask if I thought my breast felt different, she wasn't really interested in the answer. I thought she would test the discharge but she didn't.

Anyway, both tests were reported as 'normal' and I was told yesterday (Wednesday) it's probably just hormonal and to ignore it and it will go away in its own. Now this morning (Thursday) I have woken up with a red patch on my skin, at the edge of where the areola meets the breast, about the size of my finger nail, and I feels kind of like when you have an itchy bite that is kind of hard underneath. Still itchy, but not like it's a bite, it's itchy around the whole nipple, so I don't think it's a bite.

I just feel like something isn't right, but will they do another scan when I've already been sent for one? Is there even any point if there's no lump? I feel really nervous about asking for another one as my dr is pretty unphased by it all and I'm worried she'll just tell me to stop being paranoid. I really feel something isn't right. Maybe I should just give it some time to go away? Anyway, now I'm rambling. Just wondering if anyone else felt similar about getting a second opinion, maybe I just need some collective strength. x

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited August 2018

    so here's what I'd be tempted to do:

    odds are that your doctor is right it's probably nothing BUT I'd book an appointment now to see your GP next Monday. If it all goes away, cancel the appointment that morning. If it's still there - esp the redness on the skin - go back, ask her to rule out inflammatory breast cancer. If there's still a skin lesion, get a stat referral to a dermatologist or a breast specialist. If the redness spread, go back asap, even if it means going to urgent care on the weekend.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited August 2018

    You can also get a copy of your imaging (not just the report) and have it evaluated by a different radiologist.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2018

    You mentioned they did an ultrasound. Did they do mammography as well? I would request that. You also could ask for a punch biopsy of the skin area if hydrocortisone does not make it go away.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited August 2018

    And as others have mentioned, request a copy of the ultrasound report.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • buttonsmachine
    buttonsmachine Member Posts: 930
    edited August 2018

    I am a big proponent of listening to your body - when your body tells you something is off, listen. Don't worry about annoying your doctors. Sometimes it's nothing, but sometimes we have to be persistent to get the care we need. You are your own best advocate on this, and you know your body. I hope you get some answers soon.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited August 2018

    allie86

    What color was the original discharge?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • allie86
    allie86 Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2018

    Thanks everyone - I went to the snr dr at the clinic, who felt a small lump near the skin near the redness. The lump wasn't present on Tuesday, and is more firm. The redness hasn’t spread though, which is good, and he has put me on antibiotics in case it’s just an infection and referred me for a repeat ultrasound and mammogram to rule out anything else, which I am having done Monday morning.

    Very nervous but happy I went back.

    Oh and my discharge has always been yellow, kind of yellow brown.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • windingshores
    windingshores Member Posts: 704
    edited August 2018

    I had discharge for decades. Ask the doctor to test it just to reassure you. It sounds to me like you might have an infection. 

    Listening to your body is a good thing but we cannot always interpret what it is saying. If everything checks out you can accept that it is not cancer :)

    If discharge changes color to black or blackish green, that is something to check out (in the future).


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited August 2018

    allie86

    Here is a few paragraphs on nipple discharge including color

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories