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Retracted nipple

Caz333
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Hi, 

the areola of the breast my daughter has stopped breastfeeding on has stayed the same darkened colour as when I was pregnant. I've also noticed that the nipple is very retracted. It's as if the skin around the nipple is pulling in and as a result is inverting the nipple. 

on the other breast - which my daughter is still feeding from - the areola colour is much lighter, and the nipple is not retracted or inverted at all. Neither is the skin around it. If I could summarise it - one breast looks really healthy and normal and the other looks shrivelled and unhealthy and dark. 
 

when I'm cold or stimulated the nipple and breast is normal and erect but still darker areola wise than the other. 
 

I went to the doctor about the colour change and she said she "wasn't concerned" this was 1-2 month ago. 
 

then went back recently about the inversion etc and she said she did see what I mean and it does need to be checked out but she wasn't expecting the worst and didn't think it would be anything sinister as she couldn't find a lump? She only examined the nipple? 
 

just received an appointment through for 12 days time the next day. Urgent referral ? What do you think? I'd rather know and prepare myself if the odds is that it's cancer xx

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    Hello Caz333, 

    I just wanted to welcome you to our forum. It won't be too long now before your appointment. I can imagine it must be a very stressful time for you while waiting to find out more but it is reassuring that the doctor didn't seem too concerned about it. 

    I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be. The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. I can imagine it is hard for you to do this at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. 

    I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

    Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

     

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Hi Lucie, 

    Thank you for your reply.

    You're right about staying off Google and not anticipating what could happen. I've done that for the past few nights and it's got me absolutely nowhere - just reading the same stuff over and over. I've done the right thing and I've been referred and nothing in the next twelve days will change the outcome. 
     

    I'll post again to let you know what happens on my appointment. 

    Thanks again, 

    Caz xxx

  • Offline in reply to Caz333

    Hi, I had my appointment today. I had a scan first, and an examination after with the consultant. I was in and out really and he just said the scan was clear, no lumps, and it was a duct underneath pulling the nipple in. I feel very relieved and not sure whether he could see the duct on the scan or whether he could just see 'no lumps'. But they're specialists and know what they're looking for so I trust them. Just thought I'd post this here incase someone with the same symptoms comes across this post and wonders what the outcome was xxx

  • Offline in reply to Caz333

    Thank you so much Caz333  for taking the trouble to come back and post here. It's true that often our members do wonder what the outcome was and it was really nice of you to update us all.

    I am so pleased too that the scan was clear for you and that there was nothing of concern. 

    What a relief it must have been for you! 

    Lucie

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