To prevent this from getting even worse...

[john12345]

I had pseudogynecomastia before undertaking a three-month diet and weight-lifting plan where I gained about 20 pounds.  Toward the end of this, I developed actual gynecomastia, with significant gland growth under both nipples.  As soon as this started, I began to cut my diet and do more aerobic exercise, and I am currently at about 11% body fat, i.e. my abs are clearly visible.  However, the glands have been growing week to week and I, disgustingly enough, discovered one of them was lactating last night. 

Now my question is this.  I know I need to go to a doctor.  However, I will not have health insurance coverage until early July.  Until then, what should I be doing to keep this from getting any worse?  I am exercising almost every day and trying to reduce my body fat % even further.  I am trying to avoid soy and dairy products, and any animal products that might have hormones in them.  Are there any other suggestions that someone can offer me?  This is honestly absolutely awful, and the fact that I have to sit on my laurels for the next month while it's getting worse it is sending me into a near panic.

[john12345]

For what it's worth, I'm 23, and fairly healthy all in all.  But clearly, this rapid weight gain threw my hormones out of whack in a pretty significant way.  If I'm lactating, is that worth going to an emergency room over?

[hatemymoobs]

Are you sure the glands weren't present before hand? If you've gone on a diet and workout plan, you could have lost fat in the chest, and gained muscle- causing the gland and any breast tissue to be pushed outward and be more pronounced.

Has a doctor ever examined your chest for gynecomastia?

[john12345]

So I was trying to make it less complicated when I explained it, but basically I'm leaving one job and going back on my father's health insurance plan, which won't kick in until July.  A couple weeks ago, I was examined by a doctor, who opted not to even take any blood to test hormone levels because it had only enlarged significantly in the last month, and I wasn't showing any symptoms of cancer. 

Maybe I had some degree of gynecomastia beforehand, but my BF% was about what it is now--pretty low.  Believe me when I say the gland has gotten way larger in the last 6 weeks or so, and again, it's producing a milky discharge when I squeeze it.  While I gained additional muscle, that is not the issue here.

Thank you for the help.

[john12345]

I apologize for bombarding this thread with questions.  Is it possible that I cut calories too quickly and my body stopped producing enough testosterone?  I went from consuming about 3500-4000 calories a day to about 2000-2500.

[hatemymoobs]

I'm no doctor, but I don't think your body would stop making as much testosterone from a calorie intake drop. Maybe if your diet changed enough as far as what you were eating and the food you ate has some impact on hormones... You should see an Endocrinologist as soon as you can. I would also stop lifting for the chest muscles until you get it sorted out.

I'm planning to build my arms, shoulders, and back up around my chest to help it not look as noticeable, but I'm still shooting for surgery if it's my only way out...

[jojo82]

Is the discharge from one or both breasts? You need to see a doctor immediately. Discharge from the breast is also a symptom of breast cancer.

[john12345]

Only from the one, although the growth of breast tissue has continued in the other.  Does the fact that the development, if not the discharge, is happening in the other mean that a cancer diagnosis is more or less likely?  Sh!t.  Since reading what you wrote, I've been seriously freaking the hell out.  I'm going to do my best to see a doctor tomorrow if I can get off from work.  Super worried right now.

[morpheus11]

don't freak out just yet. breast cancer in men is extremely rare, and if found, very treatable.

As for your problem, a friend of mine's brother went through that. It wasn't much...really. I know you're concerned, as I would be too, so if you really want some solid advice about breast cancer in men, give the American Cancer Society a call. They have cancer information specialists there 24/7 to answer any of your cancer related specialists.  Just ask them about the signs of breast cancer in men, and ask them to email you documents on it.  That way, you get specific information about it.  Not some bs from googling it.

good luck

[BeLikeArnold]

Honestly, did you use any steroids? A diet of 2000 is still enough to maintain normal testosterone levels given you ate enough fats and had weekly feed days.

[john12345]

No steroids whatsoever.  Just a whole lot of large portions, whey protein shakes + creatine and glutamine for the duration.  I read in a couple places that precipitous drops in calorie intakes can cause the body to stop producing certain hormones, but, a) it wasn't that quick of a drop, and b) this seems like an extreme reaction.  I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow even if I need to go to an ER.

[hatemymoobs]

You don't need to go to the ER bro, not unless it is an emergency. If it were breast cancer (which I highly doubt) it wouldn't be an emergency, but would be urgent.
Make an appointment with your general doctor asap and tell him/her what is going on.
In the mean time look for an endocrinologist and get an appt.

Chances are your gland development is just developing a lot. Discharge could be lactation. Yes, allegedly this does happen to some men too.

Good luck and keep us all updated on your condition.

[john12345]

The development of the glands has continued over the past few days.  Saw my doc, and they're running a thyroid and prolactin levels test over the long weekend and I'm probably having an ultrasound of the tissue on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Ooof.

[jojo82]

The development of the glands has continued over the past few days.  Saw my doc, and they're running a thyroid and prolactin levels test over the long weekend and I'm probably having an ultrasound of the tissue on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Ooof.

Continued growth of breast tissue into adulthood is definitely due to problems in the endocrine system. You made the right choice by going to your doctor. You need to get your androgen:estrogen imbalance fixed before dealing with the gynecomastia issue.

[jojo82]

Please give me an update on your condition. I am extremely interested in what your doctor found.