Nipple Discharge
Nipple discharge is the leakage of fluid from the nipple.
It is very common and not usually a sign of breast cancer.
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Symptoms
Questions your surgeon is likely to ask are:
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How often does it happen?
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Does it discharge from one or both breasts?
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What colour is the fluid?
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Is there ever any blood?​
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Does the discharge happen by itself or do you need to express it?
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Causes
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Physiological (normal) discharge
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Coloured or milky discharge
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From multiple ducts
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Usually needs to be expressed & occurs in both breasts
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Abnormal Discharge
Duct ectasia
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Distension of the ducts behind the nipple, common in post-menopausal women.
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Can result in a thick, yellow discharge.
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Ductal papillomas
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Small growths within the milk duct.
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Can be associated with atypical cells or an increased risk for breast cancer.
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Clear or blood-stained discharge, usually one side only and from single duct.
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Skin Changes
Nipple eczema
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Similar to eczema on other parts of the body, can cause dry skin & weeping.
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Paget's disease
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A particular type of breast cancer that involves the skin of the nipple.
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Itching & crusting of the nipple
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Can be difficult to differentiate from eczema.
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Treatment
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Normal discharge
Normal discharge does not need any treatment.
It will often settle if you stop expressing it.
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Abnormal discharge
This requires further investigation such as mammogram, ultrasound and possibly needle biopsy.
The treatment will depend on the underlying cause and may include surgery.
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Skin changes
Once Paget’s disease has been ruled out, the treatment for nipple eczema is similar to the treatment of eczema in other parts of the body.