Nipple discharge may indicate breast cancer

Breast discharge, which is one of the most worrisome conditions for women after breast pain and swelling, negatively affects the quality of life. It is vital to identify the source of this problem and intervene without delay. Ductoscopy provides rapid diagnosis and treatment in nipple discharge, which can be a precursor of early-stage breast cancers. From Memorial Şişli Hospital Department of General Surgery Breast Health Centre Assoc. Dr. Fatih Levent Balcı gave information about the causes and treatment of breast discharge.

In the majority of women, nipple discharge is observed at certain periods of their lives. However, many women do not care about this. However, nipple discharge may be caused by a natural process or may be a symptom of some problems. The fact that the discharge comes from two breasts, from multiple channels, and that it is oily and milky may indicate hormonal or psychosomatic causes other than breast cancer. However, if there is a bloody or light-coloured discharge from a single breast, this may be a symptom of possible early-stage breast cancer.

Causes of nipple discharge should be investigated

Nipple discharge due to hormonal or psychosomatic reasons usually comes from both breasts and is milky on both sides. If the person is not in puberty and a discharge of this colour occurs, hormonal or other possible causes of this must be investigated. The probability of breast cancer in this type of discharge is between 5-10 percent. However, the diagnosis of such millimetric cancers is quite difficult. In fact, these “mini cancers” may not be visible on ultrasound, mammography, or MRI. At this point, "ductoscopy", which is imaged by entering through the milk channel with discharge, can be life-saving.

Every discharge should be evaluated with suspicion of cancer

In general terms, nipple discharge can be divided into two as pathological and non-pathological. In non-pathological cases, a milky discharge comes from both sides. In the pathological ones, flow comes from one breast and one canal. Usually, bloodied or light-coloured discharge from one breast is seen in cancers, and yellow and green coloured discharge is seen in fibrocystic changes or breast abscesses. However, the fact that the colour of the current is yellow or green does not mean that the person does not have cancer. Regardless, the causes of nipple discharge should be investigated and a treatment plan should be determined accordingly.

Treatment with digitaloscopy is also possible

Various tests are used to investigate the cause of nipple discharge. These are classically Ultrasound, mammography and MRI. However, cancers that cause nipple discharge can rarely be caught by these classical methods. Because these lesions are approximately 1 mm and are very difficult to see with classical methods. In many patients with pathological nipple discharge, especially thanks to breast ductoscopy, it is possible to detect breast cancer originating from the canal in the early period. The nipple is enlarged and entered into the breast through a 1 mm diameter cannula from where the discharge comes from and the location of the lesion is determined. Sometimes this discharge is caused by wart-like lesions called papillomas. Thanks to this method, washing, ductal lavage, biopsy and some therapeutic procedures may also be possible in the breast canal.

You can get rid of wart-like (papilloma) lesions with local anaesthesia

Ductoscopy can be performed under local anaesthesia and easily. Ductoscopy provides treatment without surgery with the help of endoscopic micro-basket in patients with pathological nipple discharge due to benign (benign) causes. Thus, the patient gets rid of the lesion in a short time thanks to ductoscopy instead of surgery.

Early-stage breast cancer treatment with ductoscopy

In patients with pathological nipple discharge, the underlying cause may be cancer at a rate of 5-10%. Therefore, those suspected of cancer or lesions adhering to the milk duct during ductoscopy are removed under general anaesthesia with a short-lived surgery assisted by ductoscopy. These cancers are general IN SITU CANCERS and these are the earliest stages of cancer. Therefore, the patient can recover from cancer even without chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Nipple discharge may also be due to hormonal causes

Some nipple discharges also occur due to hormonal or psychosomatic reasons. Apart from the postpartum period, all kinds of milky-coloured discharge is called galactorrhea. Galactorrhea may also occur due to psychological factors, physiological problems or problems caused by the pituitary gland in the brain. At this point, if the problem is due to hormonal causes, nipple discharge can be controlled with various drugs; if it is due to psychological factors, with appropriate medical treatment.

Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.