chest soreness/"bump" under areola

[Mdlftr]

O.k., this is somewhat embarrassing, but, hey, it's the internet, and no body knows your name....

Anyway, I've been working out pretty consistently and seriously for about 14 months since I've been back in the gym. I have been making good progress and have recently put on 4 pounds of solid muscle since early summer. I have been focusing on chest, legs and abs. For chest, incline presses, flat presses and flyes, as well as push ups. I also do antagonistic exercises for my back: rows, pull ups, etc.

I am completely natural. I have never taken any steroids or supplements. The only thing I have ever taken are OTC multivitamins and "Muscle Milk" whey protein.

Over the last two weeks, I noticed that my left nipple was sore every time my shirt brushed it as I was changing shirts. I thought, "Hey, cool, I'm getting more muscular" - - which I AM. However, yesterday I happened to press in on my nipple and felt a bump underneath, roughly corresponding to the outer edges of my areola. My right nipple and areola are not sore, and do not have any bumps under them. I'm in my early 50s and, other than my head surgery two years ago, in very good to excellent health.

Does anyone else have experience with this kind of one sided soreness under a nipple? I've heard/read some wild stuff about breast cancer in men, but I'm thinking, "Hey, what?!" Before I freak out totally about this, does anyone out there have any comments, thoughts, suggestions?

Yes, I am going to make an appointment to see my doctor. Since she's an internist, I don't know what she'll say, but I'll follow her advice, particularly if she recommends a specialist.

Thanks for any words on this ["Don't buy green bananas man!" "Sucks to be you!" "Don't worry about it - perfectly normal -- for stage four cancer!" "
Don't worry about it - normal from working out." Etc., Etc. ]

Mdlftr

[arpeejay]

Going to see your doctor is what you need to do -- and don't let them say, "oh, how about December 29th?" Tell 'em you need to be seen this week.

Breast cancer in men is very real. More likely, it's an ingrown hair follicle but until you get it checked out, you don't know. Or maybe your big manly pecs are just chafing against your shirt!

At any rate, please keep us posted!

xoxo

Richard

[Mdlftr]

Originally Posted by arpeejay

Going to see your doctor is what you need to do -- and don't let them say, "oh, how about December 29th?" Tell 'em you need to be seen this week.

. Or maybe your big manly pecs are just chafing against your shirt!

xoxo

Richard

Thanks, Richard, I needed that! I especially hope it's the "big manly pecs chafing against my shirt!"

Mdlftr

[Riko]

If the "lumps" are relatively firm, uniform and somewhat raised when you press on them but there is a depression directly under the nipple it could also be gynecomastia where breast tissue is growing. Good to see the doctor and have it checked out and allay worries that it is something more serious.

[Gene]

Are your nipples pierced?

I am and I once got an infection in one of them that made the nipple really sore and hard around it. It took weeks to go back to normal.

But seeing a doctor is the thing to do.

[FuzzyKB]

Originally Posted by Mdlftr

O.k., this is somewhat embarrassing, but, hey, it's the internet, and no body knows your name....

Anyway, I've been working out pretty consistently and seriously for about 14 months since I've been back in the gym. I have been making good progress and have recently put on 4 pounds of solid muscle since early summer. I have been focusing on chest, legs and abs. For chest, incline presses, flat presses and flyes, as well as push ups. I also do antagonistic exercises for my back: rows, pull ups, etc.

I am completely natural. I have never taken any steroids or supplements. The only thing I have ever taken are OTC multivitamins and "Muscle Milk" whey protein.

Over the last two weeks, I noticed that my left nipple was sore every time my shirt brushed it as I was changing shirts. I thought, "Hey, cool, I'm getting more muscular" - - which I AM. However, yesterday I happened to press in on my nipple and felt a bump underneath, roughly corresponding to the outer edges of my areola. My right nipple and areola are not sore, and do not have any bumps under them. I'm in my early 50s and, other than my head surgery two years ago, in very good to excellent health.

Does anyone else have experience with this kind of one sided soreness under a nipple? I've heard/read some wild stuff about breast cancer in men, but I'm thinking, "Hey, what?!" Before I freak out totally about this, does anyone out there have any comments, thoughts, suggestions?

Yes, I am going to make an appointment to see my doctor. Since she's an internist, I don't know what she'll say, but I'll follow her advice, particularly if she recommends a specialist.

Thanks for any words on this ["Don't buy green bananas man!" "Sucks to be you!" "Don't worry about it - perfectly normal -- for stage four cancer!" "
Don't worry about it - normal from working out." Etc., Etc. ]

Mdlftr

Most likely this is common gyno from the description. As we age we are more likely to get it. It should be checked by an MD and treated. Be aware that there are a number of drugs even a few OTC's that will cause this especially in those of us "ahem" over 40. If you have been away from the weights for some time what happens is as the muscle starts to grow and firm up it changes the position of the breast tissue and for lack of a better term pushes against it from the back side.

One of the things you need to have done when you undertake a workout over 40 is to have a detailed hormone profile run. You will need to know your numbers on Serum Testosterone, Free-Floating Testosterone, Estiadol, FSH and Prolactin. You need all of those in spite of what the MD says to make a determination. Most are not familiar with male hormone issues and aging and male HRT is very useful and great for you if done right. The problem is that about 80% don't do it right. Good Luck. . . . . .

[Lucas88]

MD,

I'm not a big on-line "chatter" that gets to know people that well, but I pick things up from what I read. There are lots of VERY intelligent people on this board and anyone of them could be right in what they say might be going on...but...without examining you and SEEING you're condition firsthand, we'd all be throwing darts.

It's causing you discomfort and concern now, so, like Richard replied...get in there now.

Fingers crossed.

Lucas

[Mdlftr]

Hey guys,
I went to the doc yesterday. After the examination, she said that it looks like regular breast tissue, no sign of hardness or any other physical symptoms associated with Cancer. She drew blood and is doing tests. She also gave me a scrip to get a mammogram -- for later-- if symptoms change or anything becomes larger or painful. So far, so good. She thinks it's just irritation from the shirt after working out. She said this happens sometimes. It's something to watch, but most likely just temporary soreness and not a sign of anything bad. HYooge chest from benching, here I come!

Thanks for the encouraging words!

Mdlftr

[arpeejay]

Glad to hear it and I hope the tests confirm your doctor's diagnosis. Better safe than sorry!

xoxo

Richard

[Lucas88]

Glad to hear it, big guy!

[Mdlftr]

Here's more info from the Doc:

the bloodwork came back, and hey,this one's for you, FuzzyKB!

I gave her your list of blood tests to do:

"One of the things you need to have done when you undertake a workout over 40 is to have a detailed hormone profile run. You will need to know your numbers on Serum Testosterone, Free-Floating Testosterone, Estiadol, FSH and Prolactin. You need all of those in spite of what the MD says to make a determination. Most are not familiar with male hormone issues and aging and male HRT is very useful and great for you if done right. The problem is that about 80% don't do it right. Good Luck. . . . ."

And, after some grumbling, she drew blood and had them done.
When the results came in, she was on the phone to me, all fired up. It seems that although everything is "in the normal range" the "bio available testosterone" is in the low range of normal, which explains a lot! For example, it is some of the reason why my muscle growth has been so frickin' slow, why I feel tired a large part of the time, why I feel like my traditional "pep" just isn't there -- it's hormonal! What a relief to know I'm not imagining it, or suddenly lazy or delusional! Now that we have a baseline of hormone levels, we're going to wait 3 months and test again to see where things are. Any hormone supplementation, if it comes to that, is still off in the future. Hormone supplementation carries its own real risks, chief of which is prostate cancer. Given a choice, I'd rather have low bio testosterone than prostate cancer!

Anyway, thank you FuzzyKB for your advice! I literally printed out your list and took it in to the Doc and had her follow it. She would NOT have done any testing otherwise, since I had no symptoms that were significant enough to justify the testing. Now that we have a baseline, however, we have something to watch and react to.

Much appreciated,

Mdlftr