Breast Health

Answers for your specific questions.

Wondering about your health? Confused by what you’ve read? Browse our Ask the Nurse answer archive to find answers to many women's health questions and concerns. All answers are from a Cleveland Clinic women's health nurse.

Ask the Nurse Archive

What can I do About Breast Cysts?

June 12, 2018 at 9:47am

I have an enlarged cyst in my breast that is becoming very painful. Can I have it "biopsied" or aspirated for relief?

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Breast Masses

May 17, 2017 at 3:12pm

I went to my doctor who told me I have a mass on my breast. How can I get the mass to go away, are there pills for it?

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Breast Health

May 4, 2017 at 12:44pm

I am 51 years old and in good health. I have large 36 DD breasts. I wash my bras after one wear and shower daily. I have noticed I’m getting a vinegar smell under and between my breasts sometimes. I have never had this problem before. It’s embarrassing when I take off my bra to get ready for bed sometimes.

Are there any solutions for this? Should I wear deodorant around my breasts? I even once had a rash and bought baby diaper rash cream because I thought it might be a fungal irritation, but that just burned the skin and made it worse. Any suggestions?

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Paget's disease of the breast

April 3, 2017 at 4:12pm

It looks like I have Paget’s disease around my nipple. It hurts. What should I do?

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Hair on breasts

December 1, 2016 at 2:05pm

I have hair that grows around the areola on my breasts. I find it annoying so I shave it off. Is it safe to shave hair off your breasts?

Of course, now I feel my breasts are feeling scratchy now that the hair is gone and the area has been shaved. Any advice on how to deal with hair on your breasts that you don’t want there? Thanks!

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Vaginal Atrophy and Breast Cancer

January 13, 2016 at 5:34pm

In 2004, I had a mastectomy of the right breast and lumpectomy of the left breast, removal of 9 lymph nodes under my right arm (4 were positive and cancer had gotten into the chest wall a little). I also had chemo & radiation, Herceptin once a week for a year, Tamoxifen for 5 years and I am working on finishing 5 years of Femara.

My cancer was the type that is so-called “estrogen positive”. Now I have vaginal atrophy and since I can’t take systemic estrogen my GYN physician told me there is nothing I can do except use KY-jelly or a similar item for my discomfort, but nothing was going to help it get better.

I’m 55 years old and this is very depressing news. The vaginal atrophy is very uncomfortable. Is their anything that I can do? I have a family history of breast cancer on both parents sides, and my mother had breast and ovarian cancer when she passed away.

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Breast Cancer and Hormone Therapy Treatment

April 29, 2015 at 10:10am

I just had a double mastectomy for stage 2 ductal cancer. It was hormone receptor positive. They told me I could not continue my Prempro, which I was using for hot flashes and insomnia. Since then, I have started Arimidex and have been in misery. My physician said I could consider stopping Arimidex if I wanted to restart hormone therapy because I feel so miserable. I would appreciate your thoughts and opinion on this matter. Thank you.

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Breast Cancer Risk

September 15, 2014 at 9:07pm

My mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, but she only had to do radiation. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Also, is a physician or midwife right for me? How do I know? My husband and I just got married and want to try to start a family soon.

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Decreasing Breast Cancer Risk

July 18, 2014 at 6:18am

How can I decrease my risk of breast cancer?

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High and Low Risks for Breast Cancer

March 28, 2014 at 3:30pm

I was reading your article about the new study on mammograms and it mentioned high and low breast cancer risk, how do you know what group you fall in, what’s the criteria?

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