search:

Re: breast abnormalities

From: Hannah (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 18 Jun 2001 17:26:22 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Tamara-

These are both good questions because many women are encouraged to do "self-exam" but are not taught what it is they are feeling for! The tissue you describe in the upper outer quadrants of the breast sound like normal breast tissue. The nodularity (lumpiness) in the breast is normally more prominent in those specific locations. Special care should be taken when examining these areas so that no "new" nodules are missed...the best way to do this is to perform monthly exams so you know what's normal and what isn't. The "mobility" of a mass within a breast means, basically, that it "rolls around" within the breast tissue, and that skin or underlying muscle is not fixed to it. Nevertheless, any mass that is new, whether "mobile" or not, should be checked. The pimply bumps on the areola are Montgomery glands and or sebaceous (oil) glands, and the whitish material may be either debris from a specific duct of the breast or sebum (oil). When you are nursing, in fact, milk can be expressed from duct openings of the areola, not just the nipple itself--although it is the nipple that has the highest concentration of duct openings and they are closest together. Try and find a diagram of the breast to help you visualize these descriptions. The websites of http://www.imaginis.com and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) have good online resources. Hannah Brooks, MD,FACS

------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Originally From: tamharris@home.com (Tamara) ------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Subject: breast abnormalities ------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Date: 06/18/2001 11:35am

I have two questions:

1) Upon doing a self breast exam a few months ago, I have noticed at the top outer quadrant of each breast, small little lumps which seem to be in the same area on both breasts. They don't hurt and I can only feel them when I push hard on each breast. When people speak of breast lumps, are they more towards the top of the breast where they can be easily felt? I really don't know what I'm looking for when I search for breast lumps. These little lumps have been there for the past few months with no change in size. When you say "moveable" do you mean able to move around the inside of the breast?

2) On the areola of each breast, I have white "pimple looking" bumps surrounding each nipple. When I squeeze them, white stuff comes out. Is this something to be concerned about? They are not painful.

Thank you.

Enter search keywords:
Returns per screen: Require all keywords:
Return to [ Breast Health Forum ] Mail a New Message to the Forum: breast-health@obgyn.net
Report Technical Problems: webmaster@obgyn.net
Last Updated: Sat Jan 26 12:29:25 2008

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

home | medical professionals | women | industry | forums | international
e-mail | about us | advertising | our sponsors | contact us | disclaimer |

This information is provided for educational purposes only.
Please read the disclaimer. ©1996-2008, all rights reserved.
Do not reproduce without permission of MediSpecialty.com