Wanting to be optimistic, but...

Update 2: BIRADS-0. I can't decide if that's reassuring or not.

So here's my story. I'll try to be brief.

My mom and another cousin on my mom's side have both had breast cancer. I'm not sure how old the cousin was, but my mom was 54 at diagnosis. I can't remember exactly which type my mom's was, but I think I remember hearing HER2+? I'm almost certain it was BRCA- though.

I weaned my youngest about 18 months ago. For at least the last year, I've felt (only in my left breast) random, sharp stabbing pain in my left nipple, and also sometimes a feeling of a letdown or almost letdown. I've noticed some correlation to my menstrual cycle, so I'd always chock it up to hormones.

But then a few days ago, I noticed a couple tiny black specks on my left nipple throughout the day. That night before I got in the shower I casually squeezedy breasts to see if they'd express anything (I do this occasionally since weaning, just to see how long after doing so they'll produce anything -- I'm curious, what can I say?). To my surprise, some very dark blood came out from a single duct. I continued to squeeze to confirm my findings, and saw more blood. It was never a large amount, but it spooked me.

The next two days, I could still do express a tiny bit of blood, but it was mostly yellow-whitish, what I imagine to be residual milk. All throughout the days I'd have some moderate, brief pain. I saw my doctor and got labs drawn, including hormones and prolactin, all normal. Got a mammogram and ultrasound.

Radiologist who read it said, "I don't see anything that jumps out at me, but bloody nipple discharge is something we take very seriously, so I don't feel comfortable giving you the all clear until we do an MRI."

So now I'm waiting for an MRI with three possibilities in my head.

  1. It's not cancer at all.
  2. It is cancer and it will be caught on the MRI.
  3. It's not cancer yet/not detectable yet? Idk. But will be in a few months' time.

Am I going crazy? Is any of these scenarios plausible? More than one of them? If you've read this far, thank you. I have horrible health anxiety so it's nice to be able to word vomit this somewhere and hopefully hear some words of rationality.

Edited to add:

33F. I have not found any lumps. I just found out I have dense breasts and am considered "high risk" for developing breast cancer.

Posted Oct 3, 2025, 5:08 PM UTC

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