hoping someone can put my mind at ease...

nursingmommy2009

Hi everyone,

I am a new mommy and gave birth to a baby boy in December 2009 who I am currently breastfeeding.  Since then, my left breast has been larger than my right breast and has a slight pink tint to it.  My left breast does have significantly more milk than my right breast and my baby prefers it over the right side, so the size difference doesn't concern me too much (it's not that huge of a difference, maybe a half cup to a cup size difference) and I'm pretty sure it was always a bit larger and just is now more noticable due to the breastfeeding.  What worries me is the slight pink tint.  I am extremely fair skinned (I always said I was "see through" as you can see veins all over my entire body).  The pink tint is only on the left (larger) side.  That side has many more veins visible as well and it was explained to me by my primary doctor that it just looked more "vascular" than the other breast, like there was just more bloodflow.  It's not like a sunburn pink, it's very pale.  I have pale skin on my legs and they look a little bit splotchy when they are cold - it's sort of like that type of splotchy pinkness, but it's there all the time.  It's definitely more pink than the right side.

I had the nurse practitioner at my doctor's office look at it in February and she wasn't concerned, my OB/GYN looked at it in April and wasn't concerned, and my primary care doctor looked at it later in April and she wasn't concerned either.  (I'm hoping it's a good sign because I know women with IBC get misdiagnosed with mastitis but they didn't even mention that it looked like an infection of any sort, and I would think since they all know I'm breastfeeding they would have said something if it looked inflamed.)  My OB said I could have an ultrasound if I wanted since I have become asymmetrical, and at first I declined but then changed my mind and went and had it done and it came back all clear.  The ultrasound tech (it was at a breast center of a hospital around here) didn't mention anything about the pinkness and when I asked her she said that I had some pink spots all over and only to worry if it got red, hard, tender, and inflamed (which it's not).

The only symptoms I have are the breast is slightly larger on the left and a pale pink color on the left.  Other than that it's soft, not at all hard, no lumpiness, not hot, doesn't hurt.  It's stayed the exact same siince at least January (it might have looked like this in December too but everything in the first few weeks of my son's life is such a blur now that I can't remember!!!).  Since it's not getting any worse and I'm not in pain, and since I had 3 doctors examine it & a clear ultrasound... do you think I'm pretty safe in assuming I don't have IBC?

I'm sick of worrying about this, I just want to enjoy my baby.

Thanks for any input!

idaho

I would think you are safe to assume you do not have IBC.  I am not an expert however.  If you want to you can have a skin punch biopsy done and then you will know for sure.  Just make sure to get checked out if anything changes.  Wishing you peace and health.  Tami

dontwannabehere

I've never had breast cancer of any kind, but I feel like an expert on IBC from all the worrying I've been doing myself!

But, for you, I would think that if it hasn't changed in almost 5 months, and 4 doctors have looked at it and not even mentioned an infection or anything.... I'd say your probably safe.  

Congrats on the new baby, by the way! 

ibcmets

I would also assume you don't have ibc. My breast was a lot warmer, inflammed, red and hard. It did not feel soft like the opposite breast.  Enjoy your little one.  Babies are so wonderful.

Terri