IBC - questions and concern

westtexasgal-2007Jul12

Good morning...
I am a 49 years old and have been experiencing an enlarged breast, extreme pain and itching and also developed what looked like a spider bite on my left breast. I had the 'bite' site biopsied and it was negative. The biopsy site took nearly three months to heal.
Yesterday I had a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound, the technician said that even though there looked to be cysts nothing indicated breast cancer...of course, this is good news...but what's up with the other symptoms. No one has looked at my breasts noting the enlargement, even though I did have to get the left one out of the way for the right one mammogram.
I'm concerned that I'm in a situation that no one knows about IBC. I know that you have to be on top of this and just how far do you insist on things with a doctor? Just need some insight, I just know that something still isn't right...I want to know what's going on.
I would appreciate any insight anyone has. Thanks in advance.

gabbygail

If your gut or intuition tells you something isn't right and you are still symptomatic, I would try to locate a facility that has a breast clinic. By your screen name I assume you're in Texas. Are you withing driving distance of MD Anderson? I drive 2.5 hours to get to Vanderbilt in Nashville where they have a Breast Clinic attached to the hospital. I was misdiagnosed in my hometown (I was told after a brief physical exam that my lump was "nothing") but I had no internal peace. It really was like my body intuitively knew something was amiss. I took the first available appointment at Vanderbilt and they did a biopsy THAT DAY after the breast surgeon saw me. My cancer was not IBC it was invasive lobular but I know from my reading that IBC is not something to drag your feet on. If you're not feeling comfortable or at peace, please continue to search for a facility with some specialization in breasts.

Best of luck to you and God Bless.

VAY

westtexas:
I am an IBC survivor and did not have any pain or itching, but IBC can take on many different symptoms as is true will all bc. If you are still concerned you need push the issue and as recommended above, see another doc if you need to. IBC is very rare and you probably do not have it, but better safe then sorry. There is obviously SOMETHING going on and you have a right to insist that someone find out what it is. Good luck and don't back down. God Bless!