Could this be IBC?

ericascott76

Hi everyone,

I'm 33 years old.  Over the past couple of months I've had some itching on my left breast.  The past couple of weeks, the left breast has been burning and tender.  The nipple/areola area is kind of dry.  When I raise my left arm, the areola gets really bumpy and more sensistive.  The burning is also across my chest, neck, and shoulders and sometimes down my arm.  My gyn looked at the dryness and told me to use cortizone to see if it improved but that had nothing to do with the burning.

Your thoughts?

Thanks!

Erica

cwrightrn

Your symptoms, Erica, are not characteristic of IBC but if you are still concerned you need to get a mammogram at the least.

Hang in there

Carole 

billmomson

You should definately have that checked.

 I recently finished my Herceptin treatments. I was diagnosed with BC in 9/08. I had a lumpectomy followed by Chemo and Radiation. Recently I found my breast had similar signs as yours. My surgeon did a biopsy and confirmed that it was not IBC. I also had an ultrasound as well as testing of fluid that was draining. What they confirmed was that it is a pretty bad infection. I am currently on antibiotics and it's clearing up...slowly, but clearing. I saw my Radiology dr for a follow up yesterday and she said she's seen it before as well. It's not common, but it does happen.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that DEFINATELY get it checked. But IBC is rare and the symptons could prove to be something else.

 I wish you all the luck in the world.

ericascott76

Thanks ladies.  I plan on giving my gyn a call and going from there.  The burning is not constant and the areola only changes when I take off my bra or raise my arm.  I just start to panic when I see the symptoms of IBC, but with IBC are the symptoms constant?

Thanks again,

Erica

ericascott76

Thanks Bonnie and everyone else.  I have an appointment with my gyn on March 22 to get the ball rolling to see what's going on.  I'm rather clueless as to what to ask.  I'm 33...never had a mammagram....this is all new! 

ericascott76

Well, I had my appointment on Monday.  Dr. did a thorough exam and said that he didn't feel any lumps.  He said it was probably fibrocystic changes?  I thought with that there would be lumps or something.  Je said the flakiness was probably a skin reaction so suggested I use A&D ointment for a couple of weeks to see if it clears up.  He mentioned that since I was 33, a mammogram would be accurate.  Not sure about that part. 

 My breast doesn't burn all the time; it comes and goes and there isn't any warmth.  I think the areola issue really had me thrown for a loop.   I guess I'll go with what he says for a couple of weeks and see.

 Any further suggestions or thoughts?