I thought these things were normal....Please help.

Hello, and thanks for your time. I'll give you a bit of background information before I start. I have breast cancer in the family, my grandmother died from it at a young age (In her mid 20's I believe). I myself am 22 years old. My sister had had a benign lump before around my age, and my aunt has had several throughout her life. I have rather large (DDcup) Fibrocystic Breasts, and have yet to feel a lump in my breast. I've been on birth control for over 3 years, and recently switched to condoms back in April, so I'm not sure if the change in hormones might be the problem as well...

I came to worry about all this when I started receiving a sharp pain in my left breast a few days ago. It lasted for about 2 days then yesterday it got a little better, and today it's much better (the day I got my period) but it still hurts a bit. At first I thought it might be something I found online called cylic mastalgia, but I wasn't sure. I did have the pain, and it was occurring around my period, but some of the normal characteristics didn't fit in with what I was experience. They said it usually occurs in both breasts, around 30-50 year olds, and the top and outer part of the breast. I only had pain in my left one, and it felt deep inside my breast, not hitting my chest, but in the actual breast, but at the base. Of course this is a generalization, it can be mastalgia for all I know. I did look into other answers, some said Costochondritis, but I've had Costochondritis before in conjuction with panic attacks I was having...this is definitely not the same pain I had with Costochondritis.  

I might have left it at being mastalgia, but during my search I found other issues that I have with my breast that I found out could be a problem. This all started around the time I started having sex/getting on birth control till now. They haven't been frequent, so I never really noticed anything wrong with it, and just kind of blew it off as being normal. I remember one of the first times I saw a black dot lodged within my nipple. I went to pop it out like I would a pimple and out came the black substance. I wasn't sure what it was, so I rubbed it between my 2 fingers and it was red...so it was blood. It's always a very small amount and happens on either breast maybe once every 2-3 months. I also don't know if this is normal or not, but I sometimes get smooth feeling small patches (like the size of a pimple) on my breast or nipple. They don't hurt, but sometimes I feel like I have something small under it, but it always goes away after time.

I'm abroad right now, but I'll be back in the USA in 3 weeks. Do you think this is serious that I should see a doctor now?  

[japdip]

First let me say that the internet isn't the best place to be doing research ..... there is so much information out there that either can or cannot apply to your particular symptoms it only serves to confuse. As far as seeing a Dr. goes .... it depends on your comfort level. 3 weeks isn't very long and you evidently have had these symptoms for awhile. Breast cancer is rarely associated with breast pain and especially at your age. The discharge you mention could very well be due to a ductal issue which would seem more likely in someone of your age. If you do see a Dr. I don't see how there could be much continuity of care but if you are terribly concerned then see someone if you can. If you choose to wait I would make an appointment now for shortly after your return to the States.     Regards ....

[Jitensha]

Thank you so much! I'm glad to see it's nothing too serious. I'll wait then until I get back to the states :)

Thanks!
-J