Please don’t scare me. It’s not what I need! Possibly TMI.

[Mum233]

I am in my thirties with two children. Not pregnant and finished breastfeeding five years ago. I have recently found some dry nipple discharge (dark yellow / beige colour) out of my left boob. Can’t find a lump. GP has referred me under the two week rule which I’m scared about. Not helped by an unsympathetic GP who was horrid about it and left me in a right state with worry.
Can anyone tell me a positive story about having this and it not being cancer? I’m absolutely terrified. Please help!

Hi OP, I had something very similar, funnily enough also out of my left breast. I had a clear discharge that would turn a crusty yellow when dried. If I squeezed the nipple (stupid I know) then the discharge would increase. When I saw the consultant, he was very reassuring and said it was just down to my body starting to get older ( I was 38 at the time) and was linked to hormonal changes throughout my cycle. So, thankfully nothing to worry about. Hopefully it’s something similarly benign for you. Try not to worry overmuch 🙂

I can’t help I’m afraid but you do need to try and take a step back. Have a cup of tea or coffee and stay away from google. Is there any adults with you?

Have you been squeezing them? I had this when I was ttc after my friend told me should could still lactate years after giving up breastfeeding (don’t ask me why I then started). Anyway I was checked out and it was fine and she said to stop squeezing!

Keep calm for now, worrying about the outcome won't change it.

I had a similar issue twice in my life, first time aged about 18 after my nipple contracted from the cold, the second time was probably about 5 years after giving birth, both times were nothing to cause worry just nipple discharge.

I haven’t squeezed at all and it’s only one boob. Of course Google said it must be cancer!
I have health anxiety due to a missed diagnosis x

I had exactly this, about 5y after I finished breastfeeding. I was also referred under the 2-week thing. Yes, it was a scary wait.

I had a mammogram and a comprehensive physical exam of my top half.

Conclusion: benign. Nothing to worry about. Healthy breasts.

My interpretation (and I don't remember the exact conversation) is that it's likely that my body still remembered how to make milk and had never quite stopped making it in tiny amounts which weren't being drawn off by a baby.

I had a few episodes until it petered out after a couple more years.

Hope you have a similar result.

I had exactly the same thing, plus some itching. 2WW referral, mammogram, physical exam, the lot.

I was just getting old and gross. It went away, never recurred, was all fine. Bodies just do weird stuff I guess. Great that you checked it out tho.

Hope that helps OP

Just wanted to handhold OP as I am in a similar situation waiting for a similar problem - from everything I've read and heard the huge majority of 2ww referrals are benign and doctors have to to do it to be 100% careful which is a good thing really. From what you've written I'm sure there is a completely harmless explanation for your symptom.

The best advice I can give is to stay off google (it won't help and most of the published stuff is very out of date anyway) and try to stay distracted until your appointment. It's so easy to panic yourself into a spiral.

Good luck and keep us updated.

I had this, it's called duct ectasia and is just something that can happen randomly. I know the one sided thing sounds scary when you Google it, but I think its pretty rare for it to be anything else with no other symptoms. I was also referred under the two week wait and after being comprehensively squeezed and examined nothing more ever came out!

No reassurance here as talking from point of zero knowledge - but I do have some practical/pragmatic advice for your mammogram (which I wish someone had told me before I went).

1. It is slightly uncomfortable but 100% dealable.
2. Wear separates - then you only have to strip off your top half (you'll get a gown - but still nicer to be clothed on the bottom half)
3. You will need to wipe off your deodorant -(it can interfer with the scan) so take spare with your to reapply afterwards if you are going back to work
4. You will need to tie your hair back/have it out of the way (again, so it doesn't interfer) so maybe think accordingly with hairstyles.

And good luck. Try not to worry.

Not the discharge but I found a huge fixed lump in my breast 2 weeks ago and was sent to the Breast clinic as a 2 week cancer referral I was absolutely worried sick ! It was just a cyst thankgod ! Apparently 80% of woman it’s harmless I know it’s hard to not worry but try to if u can x

I haven't had this, but been referred under the 2 week pathway for something else (gyne) which turned out not to be cancer or anything serious. The GP very reassuringly said that it was better to be over-cautious than risk missing anything and it would nearly always not be cancer.

Google says anything could be cancer

Mine do this still now and I finished breast feeding a few years ago. I didn’t even think of it being anything sinister if I’m honest!

I was referred for yellow discharge and a lump in my breast last year. I was a bit closer to finishing breastfeeding, about 18 months, but far enough away that the GP thought it should have settled down by then. I also have health anxiety and the wait was pretty horrid. Agree with others not to Google - confirmation bias is a very real thing and health anxiety means you Google very specific things until you get to a cancer "diagnosis" when it could be any number of benign things.

Anyway, long story short, I'm absolutely fine. The lump was just lumpy tissue, the discharge was just a breastfeeding hangover/hormone related thing that hadn't caught on that I was no longer breastfeeding. Consultant told me it was very common and not to poke/squeeze and eventually it'd settle down, and it has for the most part. It's great that you've been referred, but the chances are good that it will be OK.

In terms of my experience at the breast clinic, it was fine. I'm too young for a mammogram so had an ultrasound, so no discomfort, and the consultant and nurses were all so lovely. I was in and out in about an hour and they gave me reassurance right there and then ahead of a more formal letter being sent. Best of luck, I hope it all goes OK for you.

I lactated from one boob when my sister was pregnant 10 years ago 🙈 I always thought it was where we were in sync and didn't even think to get it checked. Been fine, touch wood.

I recently had this.

11 years after finishing breast feeding!

Dr referred me via the 2 week pathway

mammogram and examinations etc

was told - don't squeeze to get out the liquid as it encourages it. Also as a PP was told it was duct ectasia and it did eventually clear up. I was worried for a while but it was fine.

My discharge was sometimes clear, sometimes not and sometimes had pinky blood tinge. The consultant advised me that it is very very rare for a discharge to be a sign of something sinister - only if there are other symptoms too.

Try not to worry too much (easier said than done)

formatting did something funny - was meant to say 11 years after finishing breast feeding

Thank you for all of your replies. They are honestly helping although I haven’t slept! This wait is awful :(

Just checking in OP. I have to wait until morning of Thursday next week for my appointment and it's hanging over me, it really is so difficult waiting. I can't control my thoughts. Do you know how much longer you have to wait?

My appointment is Wednesday. So so scared. Hand hold for yours xx

I had exactly the same. It was absolutely nothing. Just happens now and then apparently.

Good luck OP X

Google said it must be cancer!

No it didn't, Google says it's something hormonal, glandular. I mean, that is the top result. I'm sure if you search long enough you'll find someone insisting it means you have an apple tree growing in your tummy that will make you vomit gold coins. I mean, there's some weird stuff online. But Google's first choice is something glandular.

Thank you for all of your kind words. It was all fine and is psoriasis. Thank you for your support it really helped x

Great news OP. You must be relieved.