Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Possible Intraductal Papilloma
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.
Possible Intraductal Papilloma
by Adrienne Wingfield, Jul 29, 2004 12:00AM
I have a possible intraductal papilloma. I am a 29 year old female with no family history of breast cancer. The discharge I am having from my breast started as deep red and now is orangish brown. Does this mean that the papilloma might be going away? What might a change in discharge color mean? Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Jul 29, 2004 12:00AM
Dear Adrienne, A papilloma is a wart like growth that can occur in the lining of the duct of the breast. Papilloma's do not go away on their own. You say it is a possible papilloma, has it been fully evaluated to be sure of what this is?
Many women have some type of nipple discharge or fluid when their breasts are squeezed, and its normal. Squeezing the nipple sends message to the brain and the pituitary gland responds by increasing prolactin levels, which in turn produces discharge from the nipple. The discharge can come in a variety of colors – gray, green and varying shades of brown as well as white. Some women are more prone to more discharge including women on; birth control pills, certain blood pressure medications or on major tranquilizers. These medications increase prolactin levels in the body. There is also certain life periods when a person is more likely to get discharge than others: there may be more discharge at puberty and at menopause than the years in-between.
The time to worry about nipple discharge is when it’s spontaneous (comes out by itself without squeezing), keeps on happening, and is only on one side. If it is clear and sticky, like an egg white, or bloody. If these symptoms are present further evaluation to be sure of the cause of the discharge is prudent.
Many women have some type of nipple discharge or fluid when their breasts are squeezed, and its normal. Squeezing the nipple sends message to the brain and the pituitary gland responds by increasing prolactin levels, which in turn produces discharge from the nipple. The discharge can come in a variety of colors – gray, green and varying shades of brown as well as white. Some women are more prone to more discharge including women on; birth control pills, certain blood pressure medications or on major tranquilizers. These medications increase prolactin levels in the body. There is also certain life periods when a person is more likely to get discharge than others: there may be more discharge at puberty and at menopause than the years in-between.
The time to worry about nipple discharge is when it’s spontaneous (comes out by itself without squeezing), keeps on happening, and is only on one side. If it is clear and sticky, like an egg white, or bloody. If these symptoms are present further evaluation to be sure of the cause of the discharge is prudent.
Member Comments (2)
by surgeon, Jul 29, 2004 12:00AM
a papilloma would virtually never go away on its own. Change in color may reflect, if it is indeed a papilloma, that it's bleeding more or less at a given time; less bleeding would allow the blood to metabolize to some extent and become less red. The only way to diagnose a papilloma is by removing it and seeing what it is under the microscope. A presumptive diagnosis of bloody discharge is not good enough; it's best to know for sure, even though the odds are great that it's something innocent like a papilloma
