Nipple changes

I am 34.  A couple of months ago my left nipple itched frequently.  I would scratch and after a while it appeared flaky and not really healing.  After one scratching incident, it appeared I broke the skin on my nipple.  It bled a little, but got progressively worse, oozing and spreading, but only within the nipple area and a little of the areola.  I wore a gauze pad which I changed twice a day.  I went to the doctor who put me on a topical ointment (sodium fusidate), and on an oral antibiotic (amoxicilan).  The nipple cleared, but as soon as my 10 course of meds ended, the nipple problem came back and eventually began oozing again.  He wants to send me to a surgeon, but in the mean time told me to continue with the topical ointment to try one more time.

The nipple, after 2 days of the ointment, cleared.  I stopped the ointment and although it does continue to itch occassionally, it does not itch as badly as before.  There is no oozing or flaking, but there are tiny spots that are "glistening".  The actual nipple is larger than the other.

My question is...if there is a cyst that exists under my nipple, would the topical ointment clear up the surface symptoms mentioned above?  Would a surgeon be able to diagnose my problem accurately without the visible symptoms?

Thank you for your time.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear mrmcas:  This does not sound like a cyst beneath the nipple.  This sounds more like a skin problem.  Nipple skin is susceptible to any other skin problem (like eczema or infection).  If the ointment clears it up, then problem solved.  If not, the doctor recommended a surgeon so that a biopsy can be taken to determine the origin of the problem.  There is a type of cancer (called pagets disease) that causes itching and scaling of the nipple.  It is not common.  It may get temporarily better with ointment but it will certainly come back.  If all your symptoms are resolved, you may want to rediscuss with your doctor whether the visit to the surgeon is necessary.

[Taocat]

Hi there
I have just had a nipple removed through paget's disease of the nipple, just 4 weeks ago and surgery went very well. Doctors said they got it all and my glands are ok.  I will be having radiation treatment  at the end of June for about 5 weeks an the doctor has put forward Tomoxafin to me as well for 5 years, but I am not really sure about that. I am 67. Any ideas.