Recurrance for the third time!?

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Hi,

Its two and a half years since my first op with Mr Levick. The results were outstanding. About a year later I noticed a small amount of gyne coming back, on the right side only. Mr Levick did a revision, and again, brilliant results. Just over a year later and I am, to my sheer horror, noticing a small recurrance, again right side only. Its slight - a bit of a lump - but from a distance it appears the right nipple is lower than the left. This is really just another kick in the teeth. Why why cant I be rid of it? What would make gyne return one sided only. I had the hormones checked once ( i think - ) and they were normal. This is a horrible horrible blast from the past, that I thought I would never have to deal with again.

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Hi,

Sorry to hear your news.  Firstly and most important of all .. are you sure that this is gland that is growing and not scar tissue from your previous surgery?

If it is gland then being a past sufferer and possibly a regular to these boards you will probably already know what I am going to say, but here goes.

Glandular gynecomastia is caused by a hormonal imbalance. It’s really that simple.  It can happen on one side or both sides.  Mine was only on my right.

Gyne occurs when a male’s androgens and oestrogens are out of synch.  The difficult part is knowing just what is causing that imbalance.  There are many, many reasons for that imbalance, from a normal and temporary pubescent change, through to various diseases and conditions, many of which are minor and can easily be treated, and a few which are not quite so minor.  Gynecomastia is also often caused as a side effect of various medications. Gynecomastia is also sometimes a natural reaction our bodies have as we go into older age (60 plus).

When a doctor runs a hormone profile on us via a simple blood test, the results come back along with the “lab ranges” for each result.  Generally speaking if each of those results falls within the relevant “lab range” then we are pronounced “normal”.  For the vast majority of males that will be the case and glandular growth does not occur.  However it’s not always that simple.  The lab ranges don’t take account of age, they don’t take account of the balances between the various hormones and they don’t take account of us as individuals whose bodies are unique.

This is where an Endocrinologist comes in.  He or she is (supposed to be) an expert in all matters hormonal, but some are better than others.  The good ones will know the truth about “lab ranges”, the importance of the balances required between the hormones, and the fact that the needs of your Endocrinal system may be different from the chap next door.  To summarise, they will take the lab ranges with a pinch of salt.

To cut to the chase ... I think you should see an Endocrinologist or an Andrologist, preferably one who specialises in reproductive systems.  If a male has breast gland that is growing, who isn’t going through puberty, and isn’t over 55 years of age, something isn’t right and it needs checking out.

You don’t seem sure whether you had a hormonal check up before your surgery.  Even if you did and were pronounced “normal” then the fact that you have re-growth tells me that you need to go back and get checked out again.  When you see the Endo, tell him or her that you have re-growth of breast tissue.  That way if your blood tests come back “normal” then they should be taking a larger pinch of salt and dig a little deeper.

Lastly, don’t worry.  Most causes are simple and easily remedied.  Get yourself checked out and keep us posted.