Really Concerned - Cancer: Breast Message Board

Katielyn · 04-11-2009, 09:36 AM

Hello everyone. Can someone tell me what the signs of BC are? I went to the emergency room last night because when I was in the shower, I shaved me under arms first and then when I was shaving my legs, I noticed blood was dripping onto my leg. I looked to see where it came from and it was my right breast nipple. I couldn't get it to stop for a long time and finally went to the ER because when I called them, they said that they couldn't give me any info over the phone that if I wanted to, I could come in. Well...I really didn't have a choice so I went in, I was seen by the Dr. and alls he did was a breast exam and said that he didn't feel anything unusual and that a follow up mamo is recommended. I thought..that's it?? He also said that he thought I was ok and that I may have done something that I didn't realize because because my nipple looked like it was cut. Well, I knew that. I could see that it looked cut, but I just don't remember what I did. He also said that in BC, there is USUALLY a visable lump or sign of BC along with the bleeding and that when there is blood from the nipple, it doesn't resemble a cut. The "cut" was sort of on top of the nipple not directly through the middle of it.

Should I trust this Dr? I will get a follow up Mam, but I just had one a couple of months ago and everything was fine. What do you think?

TerriD · 04-12-2009, 10:38 PM

Hi Katielyn,
I can understand your concern. A bleeding nipple is a scary thing, but doesn't necessarily mean cancer.

Some years ago I hit my breast on the edge of a door. I didn't think much of it until a few days later when I noticed blood on my shirt and bra, and I could see it was coming from my nipple. Naturally I panicked and made an appt.
I had a mammogram, they did a smear taking blood from the nipple and putting it on a slide. Everything came back fine, except a couple of ducts seemed to be a little enlarged. I was sent to a surgeon and she ordered an ultrasound. Knowing that I had injured myself, she had me wait 6 months before I went back to see her. I was bleeding like a nursing mother out of that one breast, it was a lot.
Anyway, she said it was a hematoma, where the breast had been injured and that it takes a good 6 months to heal.
Six months later I had another ultrasound, by then there hadn't been bleeding for awhile and my ducts were fine.

Have you pinched your nipple? Have you hurt your breast in any way?
Sometimes we forget when we injure ourselves.

I would get a mammogram and maybe even an ultrasound if it's recommended, but I wouldn't worry about it being cancer too much.

Keep us posted.

All the best,

Terri