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Itchy nipple plus pus
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butterfli282001 posted:
I was reading some of your comments. I am 37 and very scared. A couple of months ago my boyfriend found a knot on my right side of my breast. I just ignored it(really just wanted to go away). Well anyways my left nipple has been itching and has pus coming out of it. So I could not ignore it anymore. I called the doctor and went to see her. She found the knot on the right and saw what I was talking about on the right. I guess what I am asking or saying is that has,"anybody what is going on"? I have to wait till the 27th of Sept. to do a ultrasound and mammogram.
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Itchy nipple plus pusI was reading some of your comments. I am 37 and very scared. A couple of months ago my boyfriend found a knot on my right side of my breast. I just ignored it(really just wanted to go away). Well anyways my left nipple has been itching and has pus coming out of it. So I could not ignore it anymore. I called the doctor and went to see her. She found the knot on the right and saw what I was talking about on the right. I guess what I am asking or saying is that has,"anybody what is going on"? I have to wait till the 27th of Sept. to do a ultrasound and mammogram.
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Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:
Dear butterfli: With draining pus and itching from the left nipple that could be a number of things including a local bacterial infection of the nipple, atopic dermatitis with a secondary bacterial infection, or even nipple discharge (more like milk than pus) which can arise from a problem with the pituitary gland.

In terms of the right sided "knot", that could be a breast cyst filled with fluid or a fibrocystic breast change. Both of these would be non-cancerous. It is good that your GYN is being thorough and getting both a mammogram and an ultrasound. The mammogram will look for calcifications, and the ultrasound will look for fluid filled or solid masses. Generally speaking a fluid filled mass is just a simple breast cyst. A sold breast mass is worrisome and would need a biopsy.

In my personal experience, if a GYN finds a breast mass which really seems suspicious for cancer a mammogram and ultrasound will be ordered right away. The GYN would call the radiologist and state that the woman has to be seen without delay. I can understand your concern about the wait. You could choose to ask the radiologist's clerk to call you if there is a cancellation in their schedule. That way you could have the scans done sooner.

Do let us know how things turn out for you. Our readers will be thinking of you.

In Support,
Jane
Report This| Share this:Itchy nipple plus pusDear butterfli: With draining pus and itching from the left nipple that could be a number of things including a local bacterial infection of the nipple, atopic dermatitis with a secondary bacterial infection, or even nipple discharge (more like milk than pus) which can arise from a problem with the pituitary gland.<br /><br />In terms of the right sided "knot", that could be a breast cyst filled with fluid or a fibrocystic breast change. Both of these would be non-cancerous. It is good that your GYN is being thorough and getting both a mammogram and an ultrasound. The mammogram will look for calcifications, and the ultrasound will look for fluid filled or solid masses. Generally speaking a fluid filled mass is just a simple breast cyst. A sold breast mass is worrisome and would need a biopsy.<br /><br />In my personal experience, if a GYN finds a breast mass which really seems suspicious for cancer a mammogram and ultrasound will be ordered right away. The GYN would call the radiologist and state that the woman has to be seen without delay. I can understand your concern about the wait. You could choose to ask the radiologist's clerk to call you if there is a cancellation in their schedule. That way you could have the scans done sooner.<br /><br />Do let us know how things turn out for you. Our readers will be thinking of you.<br /><br />In Support,<br />Jane
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