Women's Information Network
Against Breast Cancer

Welcome to the WIN Against Breast Cancer message board. WIN ABC is pleased to provide an opportunity for you to have some of your concerns addressed. Please be aware that your questions will be directed to other visitors to this site. Medical information posted may not have been submitted by a healthcare professional specializing in breast health and breast cancer care.

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Re: scared

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Posted by Betsy Mullen on 4/1/2000 from 205.188.195.52:
In reply to: scared posted by rebecca on 3/30/2000 from 205.238.249.88:
Dear Rebecca:

I am glad that you have posted your message, thoughts and feelings on our message board. I have forwarded your questions to an expert in breast health and as soon as I receive any information from him, I will notify you right away.

It is important for you to know that it is very, very uncommon for breast cancer to be diagnosed in a young lady your age – in your teens and the majority of breast cancer cases do not occur in a women in their 20’s, either.

Cold temperature can sometime cause a woman’s nipples to become harder (actually, erect) than usual – that is perfectly normal. The area of darker pigment around your nipples is called the areola.

Have you discussed your questions and worries with a parent or other adult you trust and are comfortable talking to about this? I know that it can feel weird or embarrassing to talk about your nipples (some adult women don’t feel comfortable even saying the word nipple) but I am proud of you for writing about this. And please feel confident that your concerns are normal and you have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.

Do you have a family doctor that you can talk to about this or that you could feel O.K. with examining you? I know how nervous I was the first time I went to the gynecologist for my first breast and pelvic exam when I was 13, but I went, and it was over before I knew it! I was really relieved afterwards.

We will be happy to send you educational materials, free of charge regarding breast self-exam, breast health, understanding breast changes, questions to ask your health plan about exemplary care (found on our web site under help yourself – 10 key questions for women to ask their health plans), breast cancer myths and much, much more depending upon your needs.

AN IMPORTANT REMINDER: It is very difficult to give a medical opinion without knowing all the facts of any one particular case. But one strong recommendation we would like to make is that you pursue your question(s) with your family and own physicians. You should feel fully empowered to obtain a satisfactory answer and feel free to seek a second or third opinion. We have some great tips on partnering with your health care team and key questions to ask your doctors, communication tips and informed decision-making tips to help you get the information you need. There is a special form on our web site that you can fill out and e-mail to us to help us best meet your needs and you are also welcome to call us at (626) 332-2255. We can call you back right away (just ask us to) so that you do not run up your telephone bill if our office number is a toll call. Your information will be kept confidential.

I will close with this thought and a saying of mine: "When in doubt, check it out." You are getting to know your body well and know your feelings well. You can be your own best advocate in partnership with family members and your health care team. Questions like the ones you have asked here should be discussed with your health care team.

There is a very good book that talks about breast development and breast health titled "Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book" by Susan M. Love, M.D. Most libraries and bookstores carry it. It does have information about breast cancer which you might find scary, but you do not even have to open up to those chapters if you are uncomfortable reading that part of the book. I think it would be very informative for you to learn more about breast development because very likely, at your age your body is going through a lot of changes with hormones, breast development and all that kind of stuff. It is always good to be well informed about your body and about your health.

I hope that his information is helpful to you. Please let us know how you are doing and if we can be of help to you in any way beyond our messages to each other.

Sincerely,

Betsy Mullen
President/CEO
WIN Against Breast Cancer