Lana
15-06-23, 17:08
Hello ladies, I just turned 62 and has been, apart from the disabling anxiety and OCD, reasonably healthy. I had 3D mammogram on March 10th this year, which came back normal, with my usual benign findings: scattered fibroglandural density of both breasts. The radiologist also added: no significant changes since last mammogram ( I always do them at the same hospital). On the 20th of March I also had annual gynecological ( all normal), where the doctor again performed manual exam of both breasts. Forward less than 3 months: tenish days ago I was in Florida and one day noticed redness around right nipple, and the nipple itself looked little bigger and more pink.I went to the GP (physician assistant) immediately after the return, she looked at it, said it looked like a small irritation - but added that she felt a pea sized lump. She is not my regular GP, and I explained I have moderate fybrocystic changes, and she said she could not tell if this is anything significant, but advised to wait for few days and see if the nipple calms down. I went that same afternoon to the breast clinic , crying, explained the situation, and miraculously one of the breast experts/surgeons saw me. She looked up my mammograms, examined the sides of my breasts, with my arms up, smiled and said: You do not have breast cancer, you have a mild cellulitis of the nipple. I will give you an antibiotic , you put warm compresses, and you will probably never see me again. Now - I had bad C. Diff from antibiotics 7 years ago and I do everything to prevent the situation where I need to take them. I came home, and since it was Friday, I told my husband that I will hold off with the antibiotics until Monday ( if the nipple does not get worse of course), and ask my dermatologist for the opinion - primarily I had NO PAIN or flaming redness or heat feeling, basically it did not feel like cellulitis. The dermatologist confirmed that it is NOT cellulitis, he said it is little more red but it can be irritation of the skin, and just gave me very mild steroid. With that and compresses the nipple area is now almost back to normal. However, since I have been so focused on that area, and kept on thinking of what the GP said about pea sized lump, I laid down and started feeling it and I believe I can feel that lump which I either never felt before or never thought of it, I cannot say!! For some reason that I have been trying to figure out, the breast specialist during that visit either did not felt properly around my nipple or I cannot remember it ( was very scared). Basically, maybe there is really something suspicious going on? Also, if it was not cellulitis, what was it?! Now I keep on staring at my nipple and areola and to me it does look different, I cannot even say how, but maybe the shape, or color or something...What shall I do: shall I go to the breast expert again and ask her to properly feel that breast , or what? What if there is a potentially serious lump that mammo did not pick? I am very scared and keep on ruminating, and looking at this breast and I know I have to do something, because this fear will not disappear. Any comforting words of piece of advice will be hugely appreciated. Lana