IBC scare...sorry if redundant!

HarleyKat

Hello...

Little history of me...have had cervical cancer and a TAH in the past...happy to say I have been cancer free for 5 years! It is my understanding that being a cervical cancer survivor does not increase my risk of other cancers, but that information has been conflicting, so I am stating the history here.

About three or so months ago, noticed a slight rash of sorts on my left breast, not connected to the nipple area. Have had some itching and pain...not directly on the rash. The rash is hot, like it is feverish, which is another symptom. The only thing I do not have is the inverted nipple and the rash is not distinctly "orange peel" like...though it is progressing quickly. Well, for thse months I....Procrastinated! ARGH! I know....stupid! I have no health insurance and have done a lot of travelling the last couple of months. Well, today I went to my OB/Gyn and was sent for an immediate mammogram. They are looking at two possibilities...or three, actually. One (which I am praying for of course!) is that it could possibly be a fungus. The others are IBC or "Pagents" which I am not sure if I am spelling correctly or not. They said Pagents is usually a VERY distinct rash and it is not always starting in the breast.

All I have read on IBC is bad. How it is automatically considered a stage IIIb cancer, and while I have no idea what exactly that means, I know it is not good. One site even said, "If diagnosed with IBC, you may want to consider clinical trials." Hunh? Meaning...there is no real cure...to consider being a lab rat?? I saw a few posts here about survivors...guess I would love to hear from them NOW and more about their own symptoms while I wait.

The next step for me is to use an anti-fungal cream and have a biopsy. They mentioned a needle biopsy, but it seems to me that the sort that they scrape for is better?

I am TOTALLY ignorant and feel so lost and stressed and am going through crying jags and just freaking out. I know I need to calm down...this could be all for nothing! But it seems uncontrollable right now. I have NO PROBLEM with the possibility of a masectomy...I am just wanting to prolong my life as I am only 40. Any suggestions appreciated...though I cannot check mail as often as I would like. Feel free to carbon me at my email address of harleykatellis@aol.com

Thank you's in advance!! I would have never made it through my cervical cancer had it not been for the support of HysterSisters.com and I figure you all are just as super!

shrink

I seem to have 4 different kinds of cancer in my right breast. One possibility is IBC. The treatment for all 4 is the same no matter what. I had redness and swelling in my breast. The mass grew quickly and was 6 cm (now shrinking to 4 cm.) The onc and the surgeon don't think it's IBC. The skin biopsy was negative. The radiologist (in the IBC camp) tried to reassure me that current treatments are effective also for this kind of cancer. We all hope she's right.

Anonymous

My doctor put me on the Fast Tract soon as I was examined . My lump appearred almost over night. I t coudl no thave been where I discovered it, less than a day or 2. IBC grows fast. Mine was golfball, June 1, and doubled by June 10. I have had all the testing and surgery in less than a month and will be starting chemo Mon. Although the path report said IDC, my doctors all said it's IBC. I had the rash, the orange-like texture, knife-like pain and extreme growth in very little time. Remember few doctors have much experience or knowledge in this area. I was lucky, my GPs mother had BC, and I think IBC, so she called every place, and Doctor I needed to see to push me up and get me in immediately. I was, oops AM, her first case of IBC. I believe the surgeon has had a few so he knew what it was the minute he saw my breast.
No scraping they need to remove a section of skin.

VAY

I am an IBC survivor...six years in October! IBC is very rare and very aggressive and you should not let anyone dismiss your concerns. The symtoms vary. I did not have a lump, just hardening of the breast tissue-skin never turned orange-was almost like a very slight bruising-no pain but was warm to the touch like an infection. Mammo only showed calcifications. You need a core biopsy which takes out a small junk of tissue. That is the best way to diagnose. It could be nothing so don't freak too much, but be very insistent. If you would like to talk directly, click on my name and you will see my email address. Good luck, God bless and hang in there!