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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
BLOOD DETECTED IN NIPPLE DISCHARGE
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
BLOOD DETECTED IN NIPPLE DISCHARGE
by smilentoo, Jul 16, 2004 12:00AM
I AM 33 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING A DISCHARGE FROM MY RIGHT BREAST. I HAD A MAMMOGRAM AND ULTRASOUND DONE AND THEY WERE NORMAL BUT THEY SENT THE DISCHARGE TO THE LAB AND THEY DETECTED "SCATTERED BLOOD CELLS". THEY SENT ME TO HAVE A GLACTAGRAM DONE AND THE RESULTS DETECTED THERE WAS NOTHING "REMARKABLE" BUT BLOOD WAS STILL DETECTED IN THE DISCHARGE AND SUGGESTED THAT I GO TO A BREAST SURGEON FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. I HAVE HAD A TENDER SPOT ON THE SIDE OF MY BREAST UNDERNEATH MY ARM WHICH IS MORE PAINFUL DURING MY PERIOD. THE DISCHARGE IS NOT CONSTANT AND IT IS IN JUST LITTLE SPOTS. THIS IS THE SAME BREAST I HAD PROBLEMS WITH BREASTFEEDING OVER 18 MONTHS AGO. I HAD AN INFECTION AND CLOGGED BREAST DUCT AND THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTICS WHICH CLEARED UP THE INFECTION BUT STILL HAVE THE TENDER SPOT.
COULD THESE SYMPTOMS BE RELATED TO EARLY STAGES OF MENOPAUSE? WITH THE MAMMOGRAM, ULTRASOUND AND GLACTAGRAM COMING BACK NORMAL COULD THERE STILL BE A POSSIBILITY OF BREAST CANCER? WHEN I GO TO SEE THE SURGEON, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I SHOULD ASK HIM? THANK YOU.
COULD THESE SYMPTOMS BE RELATED TO EARLY STAGES OF MENOPAUSE? WITH THE MAMMOGRAM, ULTRASOUND AND GLACTAGRAM COMING BACK NORMAL COULD THERE STILL BE A POSSIBILITY OF BREAST CANCER? WHEN I GO TO SEE THE SURGEON, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS I SHOULD ASK HIM? THANK YOU.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Jul 16, 2004 12:00AM
Dear Smilentoo: It is unlikely that these symptoms are related to menopause. Certainly, that all the tests you have had so far are normal is a good thing. Discharge can occur for a variety of reasons, including recent breast feeding. Although there is always a small chance that this could be breast cancer, some blood cells could also indicate a papilloma (a benign wart-like growth in the duct) but it is best to see the breast specialist to have it evaluated.
