Don't just automatically rely on the fact that you smoke marijuana as the cause of your gynecomastia. There are all kinds of other causes like testicular cancer for one. Feel your testicles and make sure there is no mass.
I have that vein type thing you mention going toward the arm pit. Surgeon said it was nothing it didn't show up on the ultrasound. If you plan on getting surgery get a hormone test first it is very important. The two things that could happen if your hormones are out of balance are you could excessively during surgery and the gynecomastia can grow back after surgery. It is another expense, but any doctor who says you don't need one is incompetent and is after the money for the surgery.
Test
Free testosterone
you can't pay a suggestion would be to go to the emergency room and complain of abdominal and testicular pain, also tell them you think you might have breast cancer as you found a lump under your nipple. They will probably check your blood and do an ultrasound of your abdomen and testicles. This is all part of the necessary procedure to find out if the gynecomastia is of idiopathic (unknown) or underlying cause.
Like you I thought after being told that it wasn't breast cancer I was completely safe. I have learned however that gynecomastia occurs in puberty and old age. If it occurs at any other age test should be done as a serious underlying condition could be present.
Again any doctor telling you just get the surgery is incompetent.
Research the condition on google also I use gynecomastia.org lots of help and information there.
Ask yourself How do you feel? Any other problems or symptoms? There are many causes for gynecomastia and many symptoms for each cause.
Good luck
WOW! i apologize...i havent checked up on this site for a few weeks! thank you all so much for the replies...as far as the problem, it has gotten worse, the lump is atleast double the size from when i first noticed it. it isnt as tender as it used to be, which im hoping it means that it is healing and going away :)
I finally did go into the doctor and they decided to take out the lump...although they did not do any biopsy the doctor told me it was "Gynecomastia". I was scheduled to have it removed at the Jordan Valley Surgical Specialists in Salt Lake City, Utah. The day of the surgery, i showed up to have it taken out. All of a sudden it became about how did you want to pay...you didnt pay anything last time...did you get insurance yet...IN WHAT A WEEK??? . $, $, $....they knew i didnt have health insurance and i would be paying out of pocket....what kind of society have we turned into that when someone has a problem like this, and cant pay for it up front, they get ignored....i have a job, i work full time...if you havent watched michael moore's SICKO i would reccomend it...it is eye opening to how the health care systems really operate. the FDA is the only orginazation that gets to mandate their own rules and regulations...i will never go back to that hospital again...i was no longer a patient, just a bill...its terrible, you get your self prepped and mentally ready to go in for surgery only to have them treat you like a problem rather than a patient.
As far as any other side effects i noticed...im not usually one to be sweaty...even after playing basketball...now i seem to be sweating ALL the time out of my right arm pit. i can feel drips of sweat run down my arm/chest. Also i noticed that it seems to have a hardened vein or something attatched to the lump under my nipple...it starts from the lump and goes just about to my arm pit. I brought this up to my doctor and it was nothing to be alarmed about i guess...
Luckily i was able to get in contact with one of my cousin's who is a plastic surgeon. He specializes in cosmetic and migrane surgery. I had an exam with him last week and he also thought that i have Gynecomastia. The chances of a male my age having breast cancer are slim to none he said but we decided to monitor it for one more month to see if it gets any smaller or starts to go away...if not we will be removing the lump at the end of May.
I did bring up the marijauna use to my cousin to bring all of my conditions to his attention, although marijuana use USUALLY would make a problem occur with both nipples rather than just one, it does have adverse affects on my body...i have sold my bongs and have cut back on my smoking...ha who would have thought smoking weed would make me grow boobs...?
thanks again for EVERYONE's input...you helped ease a lot of my stress. Ill write back at the end of the month to let everyone know how it is going...
Mine was gynecomastia. If yours is too I would get a hormone test. I am waiting for my results. I thought the worst case was breast cancer now I have read that I could have a brain tumor, adrenal tumor, liver disease or testicular cancer. All being worst case scenarios.It could simply be because I am overweight and used to smoke marijuana habitually. Mine is only on one side so supposedly it is more possibly caused by drugs. Gynecomastia is the most common breast condition in men. I learned that I am no where near the first to present this with the fear that it is cancer. See a surgeon if you can. Good luck.
Hi,
How are you doing now? Has there been any symptomatic improvement?
Have you stopped taking the drugs (marijuana)? Are you seeing a breast specialist for your complaints?
Has any medication been prescribed and any investigations done?
Let us know about what your doctor advises and if you have any other doubts.
Regards.
Hi,
I have a similar problem. 25 yo male
There is a lump that is sore under my left nipple I had it for six months before I finally went to the doctor and got an ultrasound. I have to get a biopsy to rule out cancer. The doctor told me that he thinks it is an infection or some type of inflammatory thing, but they want to be safe. This is crazy I'm stressed out. Know how you feel man good luck.