Skip to content
My WebMD Sign In, Sign Up
Nipple Discharge question
avatar
An_247500 posted:
About 2.75 months ago I read something about nipple discharge and cancer, so (probably foolishly) I gave my breasts a good hard squeeze and found that I had some discharge from one area on my left nipple. The first part of the discharge looked clear, but was obviously milky as it continued to come out. It has never been spontanous and only occurs in very small amounts


I am 41 years old and had not yet had a mammo, so I went in and immediately had a physical exam, diagnostic mammo, and an ultrasound -- all normal. The gyn saw the discharge and said it looked like milk -- I commented that it was sticky and she said "so is milk". I did breasfeed both my children -- my daughter until she was 3. She is now 8.75 -- so it's been a while. The side with the discharge was always the side that had the most milk production -- and for the last year or so of breastfeeding was the only side that produced any signigicant amount of milk. Not sure if that means anything.
After the normal mammo and u/s my gyn told me to stop squuezing and see what happened. I mostly stopped, only checking every few weeks, and the discharge seemed to resolve. I checked (squeezed) last night and it happened again. I had been taking some lorazapam (an anti-anxiety med) that day due to severe anxiety, and I know that tranqualizers can cause nipple discharge --- but I don't understand why it would only be from one duct on one side.



I have an appointment with the NP at my GYNs office this afternoon.



What are the odds that this could be related to a breast cancer?
Reply
 
avatar
Rachael67 responded:
Not so good to have such a stressful situation on your plate...I am sorry!

However, by now you most likely have seen your NP and have been reassured, or at least directed as to how to proceed.

Were I in your place, I might want to double check with someone at a breast care center. Unlike the GYN, they deal only with issues of the breast, and have the most information as well as the most up to date equipment.

If you were anxious already, I can't begin to know what that level has reached with this challenge. Reassurance and follow-thru with any kind of problem might be the best resolution to that present tension.

We will hold you in our thoughts that all goes well and that your worries were unnecessary. Please let us know how you are doing.

Blessings.
Rachael

PS...STOP SQUEEZING!!! It is only serving to increase your concern and might well be irritatiing whatever the cause may be.
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song.
Maya Angelou
 
avatar
Jenna291 replied to Rachael67's response:
Hope by now you have answers from your NP.
keep us posted - we care here!!!!

~ Jenna


Helpful Tips

Guidline Suggestions after Breast Cancer Diagnosis
BREAST CANCER GUIDELINES I. Diagnosis II. Find a Breast Surgeon and/or Plastic Surgeon, and/or Radiation ... More
Was this Helpful?
53 of 58 found this helpful

Related Drug Reviews

  • Drug Name User Reviews

Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration

FDAYou are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For more information, visit the Duke Health Breast Cancer Center