Not sure how to put this...!?

First can I say, this is off topic but still a health question (and a WEIRD one - not for the awkward or squeamish!). I hope its ok to post it on here, the reason I did rather than somewhere else is because this is the best forum I have found anywhere and I wonder if it might be thyroid related too.

Ok so you have been warned and informed.

Because of being anorexic I didn't really ever have breasts until about a year ago...and now they're like, normal basically...but yesterday I noticed the right one was kind of itchy and when I looked it had this tiny black dot on what I find is called the 'areola'. I rubbed it to see if it would go away and a miniscule bit of blood appeared. And I'm talking really super miniscule, this thing is tiny. It didn't go away and it's still there. I googled it for ages and couldn't find anything like it other than a tiny polyp maybe, a blackhead, or something cancerous or that would predispose me to cancer in the future. Obviously that is somewhat concerning. I would describe it as a tiny dark string with a black bobble on the end thats kind of lodged right in the skin. There are no lumps or anything, its very much on the surface. I have noticed this right breast is very slightly bigger than the other one but its always been and I figured that was normal. So I wonder if anyone knows what it might be? Has anyone else had this? Is it thyroid related maybe? I will go to my GP if it seems to get worse but I was curious in the meantime as to what it could be...and I'm dreading it might be cancer but surely thats unlikely if I'm only 21? Anyways, I put some tea tree on it and took lots of vitamin C mostly to make myself feel better ha ha. As far as I'm aware there's no breast cancer history in my family.

Sorry for this random essay, somebody please get rid of this thread if it is innapropriate...thanks for your time and I'd be so grateful for some honest/reassuring feedback -_-

Thanks

Superparrot xx

[Fruitandnutcase]

If I were you I would go and get it checked out - could be nothing but you never know. Do you have th little 'string bit' or is it still attached. If it isn't attached and you've still got it I'd take it along with you.

Hopefully it will be completely harmless but I'd follow it up if I were you.

[Hidden in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

It's still all stuck on, it wouldn't come off and I thought it best to leave it...thanks for your reply, I can't do anything until monday of course, but if it hasn't improved by then I will go to the doc. Fingers crossed it just disappears! Thank you

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Hidden]

I'd still get it checked out - it would be interesting t know what it is for a start and you could maybe get it removed, you don't want anything like that there as things like that can easily get rubbed and then start to bleed.

😊

[Hidden in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Oh I will, don't worry, but if theres nothing there by monday they might not be very sympathetic, lol

[shaws]

I agree with FNC - always get anything which could be suspicious checked out by a medical person. The doctors should have more experience than us.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Yes, I will as soon as I can - thank you

[Clutter]

Superparrot, any leakage from the nipple should be checked by your GP. From what you've said it could be an ingrowing hair and blocked hair follicle, or milk duct, rather than than anything sinister, but you don't want it becoming infected, so it should be examined. In the meantime, leave it alone and don't prod, poke or squeeze it.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

Thanks clutter, very helpful and of course you're right. I'm glad there is at least a possibility that its nothing serious -_- why can't the human body just function, lol

[misswinky34]

Hello, don't know if this helps you but I am prone to getting sebaceous cysts, I've had them all over my body from a very young age. I'm also a hypothyroid but I think this is unrelated in my case as I have had the cysts since childhood but only been hypo in the last year. The reason I've stuck my 2 penneth in is because when I've had a cyst I could physically reach, to pick and harass and scrutinise lol when I've dug at it (not recommending that to anyone btw!!) there's always been a string attached just under the surface . To best describe I would say it's like a really thin almost ( sinew) like you get on chicken or steak, elastic type thin string. HOWEVER I've never had one on my areola or breast or nipple tissue. Mine tend to follow hair follicles hence them being on my head and legs but I've also had one on my spine and ear. Not all cysts contain fluid so it's most likely nothing to worry about! But i am a natural born worrier so would Defo advise you to see a gp if your worried. Don't worry about the size difference of your boobs. I am a whole cup size different from one boob to another. Which is crap when your tying to buy a bra. Lol don't worry but if you are see your doctor he will put your mind at rest xxxxxx

[Hidden in reply to misswinky34]

Thank you so much! I'm sorry you suffer through all those cysts, that must really suck. But you described it perfectly, that its like a sinew. How bizarre! Hopefully you will find a solution to your condition and my gp will tell me its nothing to worry about. Wouldn't that be great.

Thanks for making me feel a bit better about it

[Framboise]

I wonder if this could be a new tiny skin tag. They can be dark or light, large or tiny, grow on stalks and can be very close to the skin or grow out from it, they bleed if you rub them too much and they irritate if clothes rub against them. I got a few on my shoulders and neck after I'd given birth and I assumed they were hormone related in some way. Once I knew what they were I had them removed by a beautician, but many GP surgeries also remove them on the NHS if they are in an area where they're a nuisance, which yours sounds as if it is. If you search for "skin tags" you'll see a variety of sizes and colours of them, some rather awful looking, but mine were very small, dark and close to the skin and easy to remove. Even if you think it could be one, do get it checked out by your GP though and, if that's what he says it is, ask him to arrange removal due to its location. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Framboise]

That does sound highly likely as I have heard that if your clothes are tighter in an area it can cause skin tags, and obviously wearing a bra falls into that category what you say is very reassuring, but I will get it checked out by my gp. Could you tell me what the process was to have them removed? Did you have to go to a specialist, how long did it take? Thanks very much

[Framboise in reply to Hidden]

The small ones were removed by a beautician who used a huge magnifying mirror on a stand to see them, then an electrolysis needle, to gently go around the edges of all of them to cauterise them and they fell off over the course of a few days. However I'd already had them checked and I already knew this woman and trusted her.

I had larger ones around my waist, which looked like moles but were also skin tags, removed by my GP. He numbed the area, then he cut around the base of them, removed them and sent them for biopsy, which came back as benign. Mine were all dark and the reason the GP removed the ones round my waist was because they rubbed against clothes too much and bled sometimes. Both procedures were very quick and completely painless.

If this is what you have, then because of the position I think your GP would remove it, or if your surgery doesn't do that sort of minor procedure then you should be offered a referral to someone who does. You shouldn't have to pay due to the position - not because skin tags are dangerous but because of the awkwardness and irritation from a bra.

I hope you can see your GP quickly for some reassurance and do let us know what this actually is diagnosed as, it could be something entirely different. Whatever it is your GP will know and will know what to do about it, but I know how worrying any sort of growth can be and I also know how searching on the Internet can cause even more worry! Best of luck

[Hidden in reply to Framboise]

Thank you, that doesn't sound too horrendous...very kind of you to provide a detailed description and advice. I will get an appointment tomorrow, hopefully. I will start a fresh thread to update when I know what I've got. Honestly, I've had so many unlikely stupid things happen to me I could believe it'll be something disastrous, but I won't jump to conclusions until I know...its the not knowing thats the worst! And yeah, I think Dr. Google is on holiday at the moment - not to be disturbed...

Thanks for your time

[Lilian15]

Nobody can diagnose what something is without seeing it - not even a doctor. We can all guess, surmise etc. but not diagnose. There are some things even doctors cannot diagnose without things going for testing. So if you are concerned, go to the doctor. At the best they can tell you there is nothing to worry about and at the worst they will give you treatment (something nobody can do here).

[Hidden in reply to Lilian15]

Of course - I completely agree and you are right to say so. However, I was interested to hear other's experiences as it might calm my mind given that I won't be able to see a doctor at least until monday. And I am an expert at paranoia!

[guysgrams]

I would make an appointment to see your GP. If it goes away you can always cancel. I had a cyst right at the very end of my nipple and my GP had no idea, sent me for mammograms and then finally to a dermatologist. The dermatologist said it was cyst took it off and then sent it in to be tested. She was sure there was nothing wrong but never the less having an experienced look is good. Nothing wrong just a cyst. Whenever you have something that isn't quite right it should be looked at. Never leave anything to chance. Doctors don't know every thing but the good ones admit it and will send you to hopefully someone who does. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to guysgrams]

Thank you, it is good to hear that similar things are not too uncommon. I fully intend to see a doctor asap, I was only finding out possible causes in the meantime. For all I knew it might be something completely normal that everyone gets and there was no need to take up a gp's time on it, so it seemed worth asking around. But if I was at all in doubt about anything I would always see my gp and this is one of those instances. Thanks for your time