Suddenly inverted nipple = cancer?

iguana

Hi, I know this isn't a medical board, but my gran is having a mammogram Tuesday to investigate a suddenly inverted nipple. How likely is it not to be cancer? Her doctor says it isn't much to worry about but any googling I do suggests that nipple changes like that are likely to be cancer.

What I've read is that if they have always been inverted it's fine. But if they were normal and suddenly invert you need to seek medical advice as it is a possible sign of cancer. What I can't find out is how likely it is to cancer. With a lump cancer is generally a 1 in 10 possibility, but I don't know how much with sudden nipple inversion.

I'd like to have an idea, just so we could have an idea what to expect. Mostly a little information might help my mother who will be with her on Tuesday.

Gordon

Not a personal issue.

eth0_

I'd suggest you should listen to her doctor and not cause yourself and your grandmother undue worry.

iguana

Believe me, everybody is telling my grandmother there is nothing to worry about. The woman broke her leg last summer and used to sit at home crying because she thought she'd never be able to dance again. She has a holiday booked for Wednesday so everyone is just concentrating on getting her ready for that.

DublinWriter

iguana wrote:

Her doctor says it isn't much to worry about but any googling I do suggests that nipple changes like that are likely to be cancer.

One of the worst things you can do in a situation like that is use the Internet and/or google for diagnosis. You'll start off with the symptoms of a head cold and end up convincing yourself that you have Beri-Beri or Swamp-Fever.

Her GP should refer her to the nearest general hospital to have a Mamogram.

Any women of her, or even I'm assuming your Mothers years needs to attend the Breastcheck programme at least every two years:

http://www.breastcheck.ie/

Best of luck.

DrIndy

Many breast conditions are quite harmless and benign, but with people being better educated are more likely to spot abnormalities like lumps and inverted nipples. They are not all harmful and should be referred by a GP to a breast clinic where over the course of one day, you meet a surgeon, get a mammogram, get a sample taken from the lump, analysed on the spot and the results given to the surgeon in charge who will tell you in the afternoon if it is harmful or not.

Then within a week of this, the case is discussed at a multidisciplinary conference where radiologists may suggest other x-rays, pathologists may suggest different tissue samples (and provide full immune typing such as sensitivity to hormones or Herceptin) and decisions are made on what type of surgery is most appropriate.

Then very quickly they are admitted for surgery if they need it or can opt to wait for elective removal of a breast lump as a day case if it is harmless for piece of mind.

iguana

Thanks for the posts. My grandmother got the all clear.:D The mammogram showed that the nipple inverted due to a buid up of internal scar tissue.

iwanafurbee

are they doing anything about the Scar Tissue? I have the same problem, only im 25. Now a lump (That kinda looks like a spot/lump of red skin) has popped up. I thought it was a Third Nipple, at this point I'm hoping it is.

sam34

iwanafurbee wrote: »

are they doing anything about the Scar Tissue? I have the same problem, only im 25. Now a lump (That kinda looks like a spot/lump of red skin) has popped up. I thought it was a Third Nipple, at this point I'm hoping it is.

I'm closing this thread for two reasons. it's a zombie thread but more importantly if you have a breast lump or nipple changed you must seek advice from a doctor, not randomers on the Internet.