Nipple Bump in Men: Causes, Risks & When to See a Doctor
Question
Nipple Bump
Hi, thank you SO much for your time and help. I realize I need a real in-person diagnosis and in all likelihood some kind of biopsy or something but I could really use some expert advice if only to know this is something that I shouldn't ignore and hope for the best like has been the case so far. I am a 30yr-old male. I have had a strange bump appear on my nipple seemingly overnight one day many weeks back, at least about a couple months ago or three, and it has yet to go away. It is driving me crazy making me imagine what it could possibly be because I just don't know what it is. It doesn't hurt, though when it was new I could feel a pinching type pressure at times, especially after a long night's sleep. It was even larger and longer when it first appeared but now it has since "un-swelled" in size, though today it did appear to grow in length and pointiness temporarily like it used to look, which I thought was odd since it hasn't really altered itself in appearance in quite a while. Like I said, it appeared out of nowhere, was much longer and pointier, would be red often, but then it slowly reduced in size and has for the most part, just stayed smaller like it is now in a dependable manner. Though, rarely, it appears redder than usual, like for instance, after a hot shower, but usually it's just the same as the surrounding nipple in color. I thought it was simply some kind of blocked pore due to its position, but it never responded to soaking or warm compresses. Could it be a mass that resulted from an infected injury to the area? A skin tag? Or worse (as in a tumor)? I recently saw some pictures of tumors on the nipples of cats (of all things) that made me question if it just might be. I have attached a picture including many good angles so you have a clear idea of what it looks like and its location. Please let me know if I am dealing with something sinister in your expert opinion and should get treatment post haste. And if so, what kind of doctor would I need to go to if this signifies a deeper issue than just the unsightly appearance?
AnswerBreast cancer is not unknown in men BUT there are AT LEAST a couple of hundred female breast cancer cases for each male one. So the risk is quite small. At your age it is even smaller. Breast cancer located in the nipple itself (Paget's disease of the nipple) is not that common even among women. In men it is a real rarity. The nipple is both in men and in women surrounded by sebaceous glands. The picture you have sent me is not that clear but it is probable that your problem is associated with an at least partially blocked sebaceous gland. But let a doctor (a surgeon or a dermatologist) check it. Good luck!
You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 There is no restriction to the number of questions there.
