Do I have IBC?

SharonInMO

Hi all, 

I had non-IBC breast cancer in April 2007, and finished my last radiation treatment 23 months ago.  My skin peeled and look a bit "tanned" for several months after that.  It then went back to normal.

 Two days ago, I looked in the mirror and saw that the treated breast had an all-over red rash--sort of "spider veins" virtually in the same spot where I had the radiation treatment.  It covers the entire breast, nearly up to the collar bone.  It appeared virtually overnight.  I looked up "breast rash" online, and just get about 10,000 hits saying I must have inflammatory breast cancer.  However, I don't have orange-peel skin, no inverted nipple, no itching or pain.

 I'm an American in Turkey, and we're in the middle of a holiday like Christmas, so my oncologist is closed for a few days.  I was wondering if I should panic and find some other doctor that might be open.  Does sudden appearance of a rash over the ENTIRE breast area up to the collarbone sound like it could be IBC?

 Also, has anybody here had IBC after having had another type of breast cancer previously?

 Thanks,

 Sharon in Turkey

Faith316

Sharon,

See my signature line at the bottom of this post for my cancer history.  I am now in treatment for IBC after having IDC last year.  Keep us posted what you find out.

SharonInMO

Hi everybody,

 I thought I'd follow up for anybody who was curious.  I was sure it was IBC, and it took me 5 days to get in to my oncologist for an apt.  He took one look and said it was definitely NOT IBC.  Why?  Because it was everywhere I had been irradiated, including under the armpit, and on my back!  So it's definitely some sort of radiation recall.

It's a mystery why it's happening, but I'm going to a dermatologist to check it out.  I've had this bright red boob for about 9 days now, though there's been zero pain, itchiness or swelling.

Thanks for your help, and best of luck to those of you going through treatment for IBC.

 Sharon

Faith316

Sharon,

I hope it really is not IBC but I have to tell you, my IBC rash was also right where I had been radiated.  In fact, it STARTED while I was still taking radiation.  All of my doctors (medical oncologist, surgeon, radiation oncologist) all said it couldn't possibly be IBC.  But, when it continued and they finally sent me for a punch biopsy and excisional biopsy, they came back positive for IBC.  I hate to make you worry but I wouldn't take my doctor's word that just because it is in the same spot where you received radiation as proof that is definitely isn't IBC.  Tell your doctor about me -- someone who had IBC start in the exact same place I was receiving radiation while I was receiving it!  And then ask them to go ahead and biopsy it.  That way you will know for sure.  Please keep us posted.  (Keeping my fingers crossed that it is NOT IBC.)

SharonInMO

Hi, Wow--diagnosed while in the middle of rads.  That must have been hard news to take.  Hope all is going well for you with treatment now.

I'm sure now that it was radiation recall, because it's gone.  Over the past 3-4 days, it faded, and now it looks just like it always has on that side.  There's no redness at all now.  My dermatologist confirmed that it was recall and would fade, so he was right, and I'm not going to check into it any further. 

Thanks for the support, everyone!

Sharon

Faith316

Good news!  Glad to hear it!