Could IBC even be possible?

Pat634

I was diagnosed with IDC in Sept of last year.  Had 4 rounds of taxotere and "red devil" and my 2.7 cm tumor shrunk to 1.7 cm.  On Jan 20th of this year I had a lumpectomy and 13 nodes removed (7 of them had cancer poking through the nodes). I then had to go back into surgery 7 hours later...he tried to look for the cause of a bleed (hematoma) and couldnt find it.  I ended up going home the next day with two drains.

2 weeks later one drain still have over 100cc of drainage but the surgeon was going on vacation for a week so they both came out. 

Radiation oncologist examines me a week later and suddenly my breast swells up and turns somewhat red.  I go to the ER a few days later and ultrasound shows large seroma in breast and under armpit but they sent me home.  Now radiation plotting has been postponed to Mar 24th because of the size of the seroma he didnt want to plot me till the seroma was gone.

Started begging the surgeon to drain me but for 3 weeks he didnt. Finally after some finaggling I got him to drain it....over 150cc of straw colored fluid was drained and the breast visably deflated.   Then it got more painful, hot to the touch and redder. Then they sent me for another ultrasound to rule out a bloodclot because the pit of my elbow hurt.  That technician pressed on my armpit so hard that I winced.

 The next monday I was drained again...this time over 150cc of a dark pink fluid was drained..some of this he saved for culture. Have also had a cough for the past week..not sure if this is related or not. As of Wednesday afternoon the culture hadnt grown anything.  Worried now that if this isnt an infection what the heck is it?  He did give me some Cipro to take last friday but even after 5 days theres no improvement and I believe its just killing off the bacteria in my stomach.

Breast and armpit area has felt like an oversized water balloon for about a month now.  My surgeon has a bit of a god complex and is very possessive of his patients.  Generally if you are a patient of my surgeon no one else in the area will touch you. 

Caseysmom

pat634:

I would get a second opinion something is going and you need clear answers. IBC is nothing to play around with. The sooner  they can either rule it out or confirm it you can then get the proper treatment going.

Rember this is your health and you have a right to find out what is going on.  It is a bunch of bs if another surgeon tells you that he will not touch you becuase of your surgeon. 

Praying it is not ibc.

Hugs

Laura