Im Only 17, And Have Nipple Discharge. Please Someone Give Me Advice

hi im 17, female. i have a yellow discharge. it isn't coming from the actual nipple, but around the nipple area. its persistant. everytime i look, it is always there. but i have to touch it for it to come out. i am so very worried about this i dont know what it is and im emmbarrased to go to my mum. please someone if you have heard of it or have any idea what ti could be PLEASE PLEASE let me know. i am only 17, im so scared.

Dear Natty S,

does it look like pus? is it cloudy or clear? is it sticky? does it smell bad or have no odor at all? is the local area red or warm to the touch?

if you have been romantic with a young man (I am assuming you are a young woman) it is possible you have a little infection from germs from his mouth. If that is the case an antibiotic would help.

it might be breast milk. sometimes the pituitary gland goes crazy and makes prolactin and oxytocin when it shouldn't, and this can cause your breast(s) to make and let down milk. for this you need to see either an ob-gyn or an endocrinologist.

it could be many other things as well. without seeing it, no one can tell you exactly what it is. breast cancer (such as ductal carcinoma in situ) is on the list but it would be far more common for it to be something else. I only mention cancer because you are posting on a cancer web board so perhaps you think it is cancer (i don't think it is but like i said no one can tell you much without seeing it).

i wouldn't worry too much about your mum or being embarrassed. there are much worse things in life. talk to your mum is my advice. if that is just out of the question, is it possible for you to make an appointment with a doctor? an ob-gyn doctor might be the best at examining this area and making you feel comfortable. find a female ob-gyn doctor.

a warm moist washcloth placed over the area may help a little but is no substitute for antibiotics if it is an infection, and is certainly no substitute for a proper diagnosis for that matter.

in any event don't be embarrassed, talk to mum, get this taken care of, be well, and keep us posted.

Hugs,
-Amnia

it is a light yellow colour. it has no odor and the area is warm and has a brown/red colour. but it does not hurt at all.
i have not had any male suck on the area of anything like that. may i remind you it isnt coming from the actual nipple, its the ducts or whatever the things are called around the nipple. i came onto this cancer site because cancer has killed 3 of my grandparents and has known to be an herititage in the family.

what would a warm moist washcloth do? i will talk to my mum. do u think it is something i deffinately need to have checked. is anything like this 'normal'? please be honest, i need to know. message back.thanks. natty. x

I found a web site that seems to explain things pretty well, it even mentions the warm washcloth.

So point your web browser here:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nipple-discharge/WO00093

If that does not answer your questions, come on back and I will gladly try!

If I could be 17 again and if I had a nipple discharge, I would talk to my mum. I would see a female ob-gyn (you need to start seeing one now for other reasons anyway). Although it is possible that this is cancer, it is extremely unlikely - it is far more likely to be something else. What I am saying is it is not time to worry yet. It is however time to talk to mum and get an appointment to see the female ob-gyn.

-Amnia

Hi Natty,

The yellowish discharge that you are describing could simply be related to having a harmless cyst within one of the glands of the "areola" (this is the darkened area around your actual nipple). "Sebum" is usually found within a cyst and can have a yellowish appearance when it drains out of a cyst. It might also be a bit of "weeping" if you have some eczema present on your breast.

However, the only way to know for sure what the drainage is, is to tell your mum and ask her to help you make an appointment with a breast surgeon. It's important to see a breast surgeon because they see all ages of women with all kinds of problems, both big and small, relataed to their breasts. Seeing a breast surgeon will put you on the right path to find out what this yellow discharge is about. This will give you and you mum peace of mind. Please tell your mum today. I'm sure that she will want to help and reassure you with this. She might have even had something similar happen to her. Good luck!

Hi Natty,
I agree, speak to your mum about it. She will take you to the doctor. The doctor will set your mind at rest. No sense in walking around worrying. It may be nothing. Since you are so aware of your body and changes, that is very good. If it is "something," you can catch it early and if it is an infection, you will get rid of it soon. Your mum is your best friend, talk to her. She wants you to be well and healthy. There is nothing that can surprise a mum, I'm one and I know.
Foodmaven (USA)

Hi, I am 32 years of age, not pregnant and never have been, i'm just looking for some advice and wondering if you can help me, i am seeing my doctor in 2 days, but both my nipples have gone real sore the last week and are yellow looking, i have no disharge but there is a strange odour that has now appeared, i am single, not pregnant, not a mum, not taking contraceptives as i dont need them right now, i have no men in my life and am not looking, i am just worried to what this might be, and if you could help before i get to see my doctor, if it is an infection, is it normal to be in both? and can it be treated with anything other than oral antibiotics as i have had allergic reactions in the past with them. thankyou and sorry to bother you with this.

Hi Natty. Im julie and im 14. The exact same thing is happening to me. Im only 14 and i have nipple discharge. Its yellow, and it has no odor. Im really scared i have breast cancer. I know the chances of a 14 year old getting breast cancer is practically zero, but im really worried that I do. I havent heard any stories of this happening to people my age. What if im some one who DOES have cancer? im too embarassed to talk to my mom..what should i do..im really scared

From experience - keep your nipples clean.  Go bra-less as much as possible, change bras often if you've been sweating and keep your bras clean.  Nipples have pores like your face. Bacteria can get into them just like getting a pimple.  I lost 1/2 my breast due to a mild infection.  My breast was sore and had a lump the size of 1/2 a golf ball. When I squeezed my nipple to try to relive the pressure I had discharge from 4 pore holes.  1 clear liquid, 1 white solid, 1 gray liquid and 1 black liquid.  I was concerned as to how 4 different colors and thicknesses of 'stuff' could be coming from around the same place.  After a few days the white, thick substance turned to a thick, red-yellow substance, like puss I guess. My OB-GYN drained the fluid out of the lump but it came right back. She suggested I see a surgeon and have the lump removed.  After out-surgery removal with novocaine, he forgot to give me antibiotics, which made the infection worse.  After trying 3 or 4 antibiotics (keflex, cipro, etc.) which didn't work, he removed the whole lump and all surrounding infected tissue in surgery.  The infection did not go away.  Eventually he sent me to an 'infectious diseases' specialist.  Sounds pretty scarry.  I lost 1/2 my breast to a scalpel when all I needed was tetracycline.  That was 8 years ago.  About once every month or two I still have a white, Crisco (r) type sebum that builds up in the nipple pores.  My dog can smell it before it's noticable.  It starts to itch under the skin where you can't scratch it.  When it builds up it smells like either sour milk or dead fish.  It's embarrasing and I have to wonder if other people smell it too.  My boyfriend never mentions it, so... hopefully not.  I have seen 4 doctors and still have not gotten a diagnosis, other than maybe I produce more than average amounts of sebum.  I don't have this problem anywhere else, only the right breast.  I don't have acne.  PLEASE do yourselves a favor and keep your nipples and bras clean so this will not happen to you.