Every time there are patients with the same “illness” – “Doctor, I have many small bumps around my nipples, do I have breast cancer?” “Doctor! My two boobs are not the same size! Am I sick?” In fact, these problems are not called breast diseases, but they are so worrying that you can’t even go to work and sleep well. I think it is important to let more people know that there are breast problems that are not really diseases.
Small bumps around the areola – it’s okay, it’s a gland!
Many patients find a ring of dark or white bumps around the areola, which is not painful or itchy but affects the aesthetics, so is this bump a disease? Of course not.
They are called “areola glands”, also known as “Montgomery’s glands”. Firstly, their presence is normal; secondly, they have an important physiological role – they produce a lubricating fluid that keeps the nipples soft, especially for pregnant women, and the areola glands produce a smelly secretion that helps the baby find and suckle the mother’s milk.
This ring of protrusions varies in density and shade of color in each person. Most people will have more areola glands and deepen their color during pregnancy, so mothers-to-be don’t need to be nervous as this is the mammary glands preparing for future breastfeeding.
Repeated itching of the nipple – may be eczema
Some patients have itchy nipples on both sides, sometimes with yellow fluid, repeated crusting, and a yellow “skin” covering the nipple surface. Most of this is due to eczema, which occurs on the nipples, but it is actually a skin lesion, and a dermatological consultation is more appropriate. These patients often also have a combination of tinea pedis, or a fungal infection elsewhere.
Of course, there is a type of breast cancer (paget’s disease) that has similar symptoms to eczema, but often only one side of the nipple will have symptoms, so if you can’t tell the difference it’s better to come to the hospital and have your doctor check it out. If you can’t tell the difference, it’s better to come to the hospital and let your doctor check you out. If you don’t ask your doctor for help, you’ll either miss the disease or you’ll be afraid of cancer, which will put a heavy burden on your mind, and that will be more than worth the loss.
Different size of boobs is not the only criterion to determine breast cancer
In the clinic, patients often ask, “Doctor, do I have breast cancer because my breasts are asymmetrical? Here we have to correct that the relationship between breast asymmetry and breast cancer is not that close, breast asymmetry does not necessarily mean breast cancer, and conversely, breast cancer does not necessarily cause breast asymmetry.
First of all, although we call the human body a symmetrical organ in pairs, it is impossible to achieve 100% symmetry. The size of our eyes, hands and feet are not exactly the same, and there are also differences in breast development, especially in adolescent girls. At the same time, there are some people who have different degrees of breast enlargement on both sides (for example, one side of the breast is very enlarged, but the other side is not so enlarged), which will also cause differences in appearance and size, which is also normal.
The difference in breast size caused by breast cancer is usually due to the advanced stage of breast cancer, where the lump in the breast is larger or even ulcerated, which makes both breasts look different in size; while in some early stage breast cancer patients, the size of the lump is only a few centimeters or millimeters, which is not enough to cause the difference in appearance at all. Therefore, breast size discrepancy is never the only criterion to determine breast cancer.
Nipple overflow – if it is clear and transparent, there is no need to worry too much
Many people are very worried that they have breast cancer because of nipple overflow, but in fact, the percentage of breast cancer overflow is very small, and even if it occurs, it is mainly bloody overflow, which means if it is not bloody, there is no need to panic.
Most people have breast cancer because of inflammation of the breast ducts, and this kind of clear and transparent overflow is a benign symptom. Especially if you still have milk production for many years after giving birth, there is nothing to worry about. In addition to the pituitary tumor or long-term medication caused by some people, there are indeed many people who will still have a small amount of milk secretion 5 to 10 years after giving birth, especially after bathing, the breast ducts are heated and expanded, and the milk that had previously accumulated in the deep part of the ducts will overflow, which is a normal situation.
SO, girls, don’t be bored when these problems occur! The doctor will tell you a few words – it’s not a problem!