Male fluid from areola - Cancer: Breast Message Board

kenm021 · 03-27-2003, 07:22 PM

Hello,

I am a 21 year old male. I have always been an athlete and pretty healthy. Except for the last 3 to 4 years. about 4 years ago i grabbed my breast firmly because it was itching. Upon doing so, fluid came out of little bumps on the areola. Never thought twice about it... over the next four years I have noticed an increase in tissue (flabbiness) around and under my nipples.
I am fairly skinny so this stands out, I have actually gained and lossed weight many times over the last 2 years but am down about 15lbs overall.
Anyway, there are slight bumps underneath each nipple, but ultrasound shows nothing there. both nipples can be squeezed at anytime (this was done by myself about every 3 months) and produce this fluid. Doctors WILL NOT test the fluid. I think this is the only smart thing to do...they don't even know what the fluid is?
Also, somtimes in the morning my one nipple retracts inward (this is new and seems to be getting deeper), but upon touching or cold weather it becomes normally erect. A friend also pointed out that the very tip of one or both nipples is sometimes pure white in contrast to pink areola and base of nipple.

Is this abnormal or am I looking to hard!

Endocrinologist and other doctors see me for about 2 mins, take my money and tell me i'm normal, that there is no need for studying fluid. Any takers or similar conditions?

zuzu8 · 04-10-2003, 11:37 PM

Hi- There are definitely three things going on with you that are GOOD signs. One is your age. Male breast cancer is not only relatively rare but normally occurs in men over 60... .Another is that this problem has been going on for 4 years without any others symptoms of ill health (A malignancy doesn't remain "static" for 4 years.) The other good news is that the fluid can be "expressed" bilaterally (i.e. squeezed from BOTH nipples). Cancer does not usually occur simulatneously in both breasts.
That said, it is a bit odd that none of the doctors (how many?) have bothered to examine the fluid. Seems to me that a needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration biopsy where they remove the fluid and examine it under a microscope would have been in order.
Since you now have a new sign, nipple retraction, I would go for one more check-up and insist on a needle biopsy, just to absolutely make sure everything is okay. (Just to put this last question you had aboiut not examining the fluid to rest once and for all.) Actually, they wouldn't even have to use a needle, since they can just squeeze the breast and get fluid easily enough. Also, it's not good enough for the doctors to NOT tell you what is causing this. If they don't know, find a better informed physician! It's their JOB to know.