Breast Health Messages for 2001: Re: black breast discharge

I too am a female, almost 34 years old and have a black discharge coming from my right breast, but it is only coming from the right breast. It is in one droplet, as if it were from one spot on the nipple. When I blot the discharge on a white tissue, it appears as dark blu/grn/gray color.

I checked the left breast, but there is only, sometimes, a tiny amount of a clear substance...but mostly not anything at all.

There is no pain or itching, except for the usual breast tenderness at the time right before my menstrual cycle.

I am careful not to check too often, as i have read that stimulation might increase this?

I found a gynecologist and she saw the discharge, my history, etc. she checked for masses, via a physical exam and ordered a mammogram and also a blood test to check for elevated prolactin levels.

Something i have noticed is that the discharge seems to stop during my menstrual cycle...it seems to lessen directly before my period.

Another, strange thing, is that every now and then..my breasts and underarm area gets all tingly...very similar to when i nursed my daughter and my milk would 'come down'. I'm not sure if I am explaining that correctly, but that is what it reminds me of...but w/out the milk;) This does not seem to happen in any relation to my menstrual cycle...that i have noticed.

My periods are not infrequent, in fact, i aften start my period a week earlier than i am expecting.

I spoke with my PA at my OBGYN, when i called to inquire on my blood test results...and she said she doesn't know what it is, but that it was not cancer..and suggested i come in for a consultation in a few weeks.

She didn't seem too concerned...in fact, i had waited over two weeks to get my blood test results about the prolactin..I ended up calling them, so it must not have been something that worried them. So, could this be just some odd happenstance? Some weird hormonal thing?

At Wed, 17 Oct 2001, Hannah Brooks, MD wrote: >
>It sounds benign if it was bilateral. It may be that it's slowing
>down and it will stop. The galactorgram was done to see if there was
>a small lesion within the duct--I assume it was done to the duct that
>is still draining. It is pretty accurate, but not done commonly
>anymore. Sometimes, a duct excision of the offending duct is
>performed and a tiny papilloma (benign) is found. Still, I don't
>think in your case these is a growth since you did start out with
>bialteral discharge--which is more likely a hormonal or medication
>change and less likely die to a specific abnormality within a breast
>duct...Speak to your doctor if the discharge persists.
>Hannah Brooks,MD,FACS
>
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>Originally From: angelsweet67@hotmail.com (Judy)
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>Subject: Re: black breast discharge
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>Date: 10/17/2001 04:43am
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>Thank you for writting to me.
>The discharge was dirrectly tested. The was no presense of blood.
>And
>there was no infecion of any type.
>
>When the discharge first started it was in both breasts. That
>continued
>for about 3 months. Now it is in only one breast. It looks like it
>comes from only one duct.
>
>I have had mamograms done, ultrasounds, and also a goloctogram. (not
>sure how to spell that.)
>
>At Tue, 16 Oct 2001, Hannah Brooks, MD wrote:
>>
>>Dear Judy-
>>The presence of a black sticky discharge can actually be found in
>>some women without hormonal imbalance. Also, there are many hormonal
>>changes that can lead to breast discharge (i.e. not necessarily just
>>the estrogens). The color of the discharge is usually related to cell
>>debris--for example, the discharge may appear dark if there is old,
>>sloughed blood in the mix. Also, if there is associated infection,
>>certain bacteria cause a discharge to have a particular color.
>>You have not indicated if the discharge you have is from one or both
>>breasts. If from one side, is it only from once area, or does it come
>>from many duct openings? Has it been tested directly? Cultured?
>>Slides reviewed? What imaging tests have you had? What tests were
>>done that were 'negative?' Some of these are questions you should
>>bring to your doctors attention. It is OK to want answers to your
>>condition. You may have a benign, chronic discharge for awhile, but
>>it would certainly allay your fears if you knew all more serious
>>possibilities had been considered and ruled out. Good luck.
>>Hannah Brooks, MD,FACS
>>
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>>Originally From: angelsweet67@hotmail.com (Judy)
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>>Subject: black breast discharge
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>>Date: 10/13/2001 02:20pm
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>>I am 34 years old. For the past 2 years I have been having a black
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>>discharge coming from my breast. I have had many tests done. They
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>>all
>>come up Neg. I am now having other gyn problems. I have heard that
>>sometimes a black breast discharge could have something to do with
>>hormonal imbalances. Is this true? If so, which hormone would cause
>>this? Lack of or to much of?? Thanks.

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