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Bleeding from Nipple

Is bleeding from the nipple a sign of cancer?  I am freaked out.  I have always had nipple discharge, but now I get a bit of brown/red discharge from one duct of my left breast.  I have no lumps.  I am so scared.  I have a doctors appointment next week.
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Avatar universal
It's understandable that this is a concerning time for you.  I think many people find waiting (for tests, results, procedures, etc) the hardest.  I think it's natural to be frightened and anxious.
I have this new philosophy where I try not to stress until at least just before something.  Stressing doesn't solve anything and can sometimes make the situation worse.

My advice would be to try and relax.  Maybe spend some quality time with your family to take your mind off this.  Anything that will distract you could be helpful.

Don't squeeze your breast.  This won't help and could make things worse.  It's probably a good sign that the blood isn't coming out spontaneously.  Sometimes clothing rubbing against your breast can be enough to stimulate it to discharge.

Have you had your breast examined previously for the discharge?  Just curious.  Brown sounds like old blood where the red stuff sounds fresh.

I had a bloody nipple discharge which was spontaneous.  I saw my doctor he did a breast exam and took a swab of the blood.  He also ordered blood tests.  I had a mammogram and an ultrasound.  Microcalcifications were found on my mammogram and ?blood/ debris found with the ultrasound.  I then saw a surgeon who refered me for a stereostatic biopsy.  The result of this came back negative for cancer.  I then had a ductogram.  A radiologist placed a needle and fine tubing into my duct and injected saline I think it was.  Maybe it was dye.  I can't remember now it was a few years ago and a lot has happened in that time.  I then had another mammogram which showed the duct well.  The mammogram showed that I had several intraductal papillomas.
Because my nipple was bleeding I had my duct surgically removed.  The results from this did come back saying that I had precancerous cells growing which then required further surgery and radiation.

I honestly wouldn't stress now because you don't know which way it will go.  Stuff happens all the time which is unexpected.  I would just take each moment as it comes and take this step by step.  You have a doctors appointment and you won't know anymore til then.  Even then you may not know a lot more as your doctor may need you to undergo more tests (mammogram, etc).
Just athought but are you able to get an earlier doctor's appointment?  Could you say that you are having symptoms and are extremely anxious.

I was also just wondering if your high anxiety was caused by your over active thyroid.

I found a women-to-women webpage on nipple discharge informative.  It went through possibilities for different color discharges.

I'm sorry you're so stressed.  I hope my post has helped a little.
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25201 tn?1255580836
No, not always .... cysts can contain both liquid and solid material. Core biopsies are much more revealing than the needle type anyway (personal opinion); better samples are obtained. Waiting for results with you ............ Take care
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Avatar universal
Had my biopsy today.  They tried needle biopsy but couldn't get any fluid, so had to have a biopsy where they take the cells (core).  Is this bad?  I thought cysts were full of fluid?
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25201 tn?1255580836
That's certainly GOOD NEWS .... now hopefully you can relax a bit and let those "what ifs" fade into the past.    Take care nos ......
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Avatar universal
Thanks.
All my blood tests came back fine, all hormone levels are what they should be.
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25201 tn?1255580836
Thanks for continuing the original thread ... it's a huge help.
You are asking a question that can only be answered by the results of your biopsy. Most results so far do NOT indicate any form of cancer. You need to stop dwelling on the subject of cancer for your own sake and accept what these biopsies show. The results you have been given are certainly NOT abnormal and are experienced by probably one half of all women who have investigated lumps or any other finding within the breast tissue. Perhaps some counselling would help you accept what you actually have and not dwell on all the "what ifs" ... Take care ....
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Avatar universal
Can somebody please help me!  Nobody seems to reply unless you make a new topic.  I don't want to do that because I got in trouble last time.
Please help!!  It would be greatly appreciated.
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