Of Inverted Nipples... and Breast Cancer

I've learned a lot about breasts lately. More than any guy really wants to know... and not in a good way.

We of the male gender generally have a rather simplistic view of female breasts. (Some/most women may consider it a "juvenile" view in some/most/all men.) We may enjoy looking at breasts... in various states of dress or undress. We may want to touch them... or fantasize about that... or... or...

But I'm pretty sure that outside of those in the medical profession the vast majority of men don't really want to know how breasts are put together... about the plumbing inside of them.

Classify that in the "Too Much Information" category and stick it in that folder with all those other aspects of female biology about which we really have no clue.

I'm learning, though... all about lobules and ducts and lymph nodes and so much more. Not by choice. Two weeks ago I added a new term to my vocabulary: Ductal Carcinoma In Situ, a.k.a. DCIS. As a bonus, I learned the correct way to pronounce "In Situ" (at least, the way one doctor said it)... but that was really the only bonus I got that day.

My wife was diagnosed with very early stage DCIS in one breast. It appears to be "non-invasive" from the biopsy and at this point the good news is that there seems little danger of it being life-threatening. Today.

Cancer. My wife.

And so life was thrown into a chaotic holding pattern that will unfortunately continue for at least two more weeks until we meet with her next team of doctors up at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center to understand the next steps in her specific process... and when that will all occur. Meanwhile, they've sent us DVDs for what will surely be an über-exciting "date night"... and booklets that dive into deep detail. And of course, there's the glorious Internet... which is sometimes helpful... and sometimes NOT.

Along the way, I've also learned that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime and a hundred other stats that I didn't know.

I'm writing this in part because writing is what I do... it's how my brain works... it's how I deal with things. And also, if any of you wonder perhaps why I may not be as focused on some projects (like, oh, restarting VOIPSA, or helping launch the SIP Forum's IPv6 SIG) or as excited to jump into something new ... or why I'm not traveling to events much lately... my priorities have drastically changed a bit for this next while.

I'm also writing this to let my female friends and readers (and their male companions) know about the way in which my wife's breast cancer was found.

She didn't have a "lump". It did not show up on a mammogram... nor on a follow-up ultrasound of her breast. There is no family history of breast cancer. She has none of the other indicators for cancer. She's in fact in the best physical condition she's been in for years.

There was only one sign... and one that she didn't really think was significant.

She had an inverted nipple.

Instead of pointing outward as nipples usually do, this one started withdrawing in upon itself.

It changed.

My wife just casually mentioned the change in her annual checkup a few months ago when the physician asked that standard question to which they probably don't expect an answer: "anything else you've noticed unusual?"

The physician thought it was probably nothing, too, but said it should be looked at... which led to several months of testing, a horrid course of super-strong antibiotics (to see if an infection was causing it) and eventually multiple MRI scans (including a "MRI-driven biopsy") where the cancer was detected and confirmed.

An inverted nipple.

That was it. The only sign. And one that could have been easily overlooked.

Since that time, naturally, we've found various articles that mention this as a potential symptom of breast cancer... but it was certainly one that neither of us, nor anyone we've mentioned it to yet, knew about.

So, should you (or your female companion if you are male) ever notice a change like this... get it checked out. It may be absolutely nothing. Or it may be something more serious.

Meanwhile, life here continues in a holding pattern while we wait to understand what lies ahead in her specific case...

Image credit: hygienematters on Flickr

Comments

[Sili]

My friend, I know all too well what you are going through and the holding pattern you speak of. My thoughts and prayers are with you. The great news is that this was caught early on!

Writing about it helps. For me, being able to share information with others is still the best kind of therapy. This article was VERY informative as I had no idea about this. Thank God her doctor continued on with tests. I will share this with as many people as I can!

[PRSA_SA]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I had never heard of such a symptom. With a family history, I'll definately spread the word. Your family will be in our prayers during this wait-and-see time.

[June]

So I meant to comment on this and not just like it but I got distracted and then had to head out to work for the day. My like was for you sharing some VERY important information for women to know. I plan on sharing this with others. I'm so so glad that it was caught early in this case, but even so, how scary to have to go through. I've been keeping you all in my prayers.

[joy]

During a routine mammogram 5 weeks ago the tech noted one nipple slightly inverted. I did not think anything of it as I am aging (60) and thought it a normal sign. My screening mammogram was abnormal. My diagnostic and ultrasound is normal. I watched as this nipple continues to turn inward. Today I requested a MRI and am scared to death. I found you article helpful because if cancer is found early enough there is a greater chanch it can be cured. We do have a family history. Thank you

[rsuarez]

Hello prayers for your wife. I have one nipple that started inward. They did A diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound and MRI and it showed everything was OK. I have a family history of breast cancer I am worried that they haven't done any biopsy yet I have to go every three months so they can follow to see if any changes but thank you so much for your information