The Red Spot....

Hopeful43

Hi.  I'm new here and would love to hear people's feedback.

Just a few days ago I had a crazy dream (you know one of those dreams where it felt really really real!) and the ending of the dream involved my breasts being lifted up into the air.  It really freaked me out, but it did cause me to take a closer look at them in the mirror.

So the following evening as I was changing to go to bed I lifted up my breasts while looking in the mirror and was shocked to find a red spot about the size of dime on the underside of my left breast!  Really freaked my out because I didn't feel anything!  I had my husband look at it and he said it looked like a bug bite.  When he said those words my brain instantly remembered those emails that went around last year about IBC and how it can start by looking like a bug bite!

Within two days I got myself into the doctors.  She examined my breast and noted that she found what felt like 'fibrous' tissue around the area of the bite.  In that time the breast has grown tender from the inside out.  Not a surface tenderness.  She gave me a referral for a mammogram and ultrasound.  Of course they couldn't get me in right away so I must wait until Monday.

So, here I am, waiting nervously for Monday to come.  I'm trying so hard to stay positive and to distract myself, but I can't help but feel this is urgent.

I want to walk in this well educated and armed.  So, I would SO appreciate your feedback and suggestions.  There is no better source of information than those who have been through something like this.

Thank you for your help!  

Your prayers and positive thoughts are so appreciated.

Common Monday!!!!!

Squeaker

Hopeful 43 ... You are wise to get this checked out right away. I had a very sim experience returning home from a trip years ago, getting into the shower and discovering a small bug bite/bruise on the underside of my rt breast. I checked it out at my PCP immediately. She felt it was nothing more than a cyst that had " taken care of itself."  19 mths later I was dx w/IBC and full involvement in that same breast! I've always wondered, but hind sight is perfection, right??  If you & your doc want to make sure you're clear, do core biopsies around the area. Don't assume the worst now. You're doing the right thing and even if it's creepy to think about all the 'what-ifs' ... you'll get through all this with more info and that's usually a good sign!  Best of Luck to you.  ~Squeaker

Hopeful43

Squeeker,

Thank you so much for your words of adivce!  I'm going to write down everything you've said.  In fact, I kept thinking today that I need to request a biopsy.  Now I know exactly what to ask for.

Out of curiousity, was yours painful?  The pain in my breast seems to be staying quite consistent.  The red spot seems to have faded a bit.  There is definitely something going on.

How are you doing in your treatment?  Are you okay? 

Thank you so much!

Hopeful43

Gg 08, Thank you for the info.  I'm wondering what I should say to the doctor I saw in order to get her to get me a surgical biopsy and a biopsy.  Actually, the woman who saw me was not a doctor, she was a physician's assistant (NP)?  Do you have any suggestions on how I can say this so that it sounds like I know what I'm talking about???

Hopeful43

Okay, the update.

I had the mammogram and ultrasound today. Man did that hurt! I did the mammogram, then went and waited, then had to go back and do the mammogram AGAIN on the sore breast! It was SO painful!      Then I did the ultrasound..........

Thank God the radiologist did not see any masses or lumps!  She was able to see from the ultrasound that there was a skin related issue (where the red spot is) and she recommended that I have a biopsy done on that area.

The pain in my left breast has gotten worse and I feel like it is moving into my armpit and neck, which gives me the feeling that it may very well be an infection of some sort. (Bug bite?) So, I am going back to the doctor tomorrow to get a prescription for antibiotics and to talk further with the doc about the pain.

The odd part about my talk with the radiologist is that I mentioned my being familiar with IBC and my desire to rule it out.  To which she replied, "What is IBC?"  ........  Uh... For real?     I said, "Inflammatory Breast Cancer" (duh) and she said, "Oh, well these tests cannot identify that type of cancer."  Hmmmmmmmmmmm.............   

Do you ever feel like you are being put through the paces just to appease others?  

So, now I am going to try and get my dermatologist appointment moved up sooner so they can do a biopsy on the red spot AND I will start antibiotics just in case this is an infection.  (Kinda think she should have started me on this in the first place just to be cautious.)

Ugh. I'm SO tired! I feel like I could sleep for a week!  I have not been sleeping well even though I am so tired.  But, I am so grateful that no masses were seen. Thank you LORD!

I am wondering if others who have had IBC have experienced pain not only in the breast, but outside of the breast as well.  I ask because I am having pain in my armpit and in my neck.  The NP said that if it were an infection in my breast it would not have moved up into my neck or armpit, but would have moved down.  I'm wondering if this is correct???

Thanks for your insights and support.

Kelli

Mellymc22

I I have very similar symptoms and am getting in to see a dermatologist tomorrow. Did you ever find out what yours was?

mustlovepoodles

Melly, I know you're worried, but you will have better luck sticking to your main thread than digging up several old threads that haven't been active in 9 years.