How long to deal with Mastitis?

LEMOM

Has anyone experienced a mastitis that cleared up with antibiotics and then later to be discovered IBC?

I'm 36, over two years out from nursing. Two weeks I've been dealing with "mastitis". Heat, swelling, redness, nipple retraction, varying size ill defined lump/density and moderate pain. Day 7 I saw my GYN and she put me on Keflex and set me up with a breast specialist. I yo-yo'd around getting worse when I saw him 6 days later(Monday). Mammo, Ultrasound and he aspirated a tiny amount from an abscess that "might" be starting. He was surprised not to find a bigger abscess. Put me on Cylndamycin and Levaquin and told me he'd see me this Friday. He felt the mastitis had been undertreated due to another drug allergy I have. The lump is smaller, my breast less swollen, pain is lessening. I do now have shooting, stabbing pain at times and I've noticed some skin changes on the opposite side where my original issues were.(could be bruising from the needle on Monday, but I'm doubtful.)  So my question...do I continue on antibiotics and wait another week before pushing for biopsy? What is a good response to the anitbiotics? Is there a way to know it's just mastitis that had a slow time responding? I don't want to hit the panic button, but I've got a young family to raise...and I want to do it!

leisaparis

I'm not saying you have IBC, but this is nothing to mess around with. If you do not feel comfortable waiting push for a biopsy to ease your mind. My IBC responded to anti-biotics, but as soon as I was done with it, the symptoms came back. I had almost all the symptoms you are describing. That's when I got a biopsy. Confirmed IBC. Mamo & ultrasound didn't. Usually don't either. IBC is usually a mass and not a lump. That's why it doesn't show up. Here's hoping for the best. Good luck. Leisa

Luvmaui

When I was 34 I went through a very similar experience as you, LeMom and the dr. thought I had IBC at that time.  He rushed me to a very calm breast surgeon who suggested we do a course of antibiotics treatment before we do any biopsies.  Since mastitis is sometimes difficult to clear up, it took two rounds of heavy duty antibiotics before I got the all clear. 

 The wierd thing is exactly 30 years later I got IDC in the exact same spot as the Mastitis all those years ago. 

thegoodfight

I just recently (a month ago) had a bout with mastitis.  I am 65 and did have mastitis over 30 years ago.  I immediately thought it was IBC and went to my breast surgeon.  He did one week of antibiotics and it cleared my breast about 90%.  We then did a second week of another antibiotic (cipro) and that seemed to clear it completely.  I haave been off the antibiotics for 10 days and everything is still all clear.  I am starting to feel comfortable that it was truly mastitis and believe what my surgeon and onc said about having a compromised lymphatic system because of radiation.

All that being said, I too agree that you need to be agressive with your symptoms.   IBC is the one breast cancer that you do NOT have the luxury of taking your time.  So go with your gut and if you still feel a need for a biopsy have one.

Keep us posted.................................Caren

Judy, weird as it is, I do not think there is a connection between your mastitis and IDC after 30 years.  Yes, IDC is slow growing, but not 30 years.  I never thought that my mastitis, which I had in both breasts while nursing my third, could be a connection.  But, who knows.........................

ateepay

If one course of antibiotics do not clear up a supposed infection in your breast, DEMAND a biopsy to rule out IBC.  PLEASE.

 Patti Bradfield, President

The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation

www.eraseibc.com 

thegoodfight

Patti,

What constitutes one course of antibiotics?  I know some people who were put on a 10 day to 2 weeks from the getgo.  My surgeon did the first one for one week and even though it was mostly clear, he opted for a second week on another antibiotic.  I have been clear since and it is about 10 days.  Should I feel comfortable?  Wouldn't some symptoms reappear if it were IBC after finishing the antibiotics?  I appeciate any info..................thanks

Luvmaui

Oh no Caren, I didn't think the IDC had been growing for all these years.  I just thought it was very strange that in the exact same spot where the surgeon, 30 yr. ago, had drained fluid is the spot where BC decided to appear.  However, I do wonder if the Mastitis, BC link has ever been explored......very wierd!

the1truereblangel

Have been battling Mastitis for 3 years now. I have had more than 30 "procedures" (cut open breast to drain, pack breast, change packing daily, to let the breast heal from the insides out). Recently had a core biopsy that came back negative. Was told once again it is acute, chronic mastitis and given a prescription of Doxycycline (have already used Keflex, Cipro and Clyndamyacin (sp) through the yers) with 11 prescriptions. I am currently healing from a procedure (cut open, packed and heal from the inside) that was performed in late September. I am now in the stage of healing that the packing is no longer needed and the wound just needs to be covered. My concern is, the burning pain is coming back in the right breast already and there is small redness (it will continue for around 2 weeks, until I cannot stand the pain any longer). At which point my breast will be cut open again and allowed to drain. Now I have swelling in the left side of the neck above the collarbone running up to the neck. No one is saying this is IBC and my insurance stops on November 3, 2010. Any one have this happen to them before. This is 3 years now that this issue has been going on. Doing nothing but getting worse over time.

Thanks

the1truereblangel

Surgeon called today. Appointment tomorrow at 11:30 am to discuss bilateral mastectomy. Have dealth with mastitis for over 3 years now. Surgery is scheduled possibly for November 15, 2010. Will be so glad to have this over with

BelindaBidd

Patti, I was also diagnosed with mastitis and was put on an antibiotic for 10 days. Nothing changed with the redness of my breast. Then I had some lymph node swelling, low fever, and chills a couple of different times. Had a surgical biopsy Monday and the pathology report came back negative for cancer. I'm still obsessing over this, though. I'm not sure what it will take to make me relax. I just can't stop wondering if they overlooked something. Does a red rash on breast mean that they would have found ibc since by the time you see the rash it's there in the breast also? I'm 53.

BelindaBidd

Yes, the surgeon took a fairly large piece of skin to biopsy...the part that was red and a large amount of breast tissue what would be under the reddened area. There is no redness now in my breast and it has been two weeks since the biopsy. I will definitely keep an eye out for any changes, though. My breast was never warm to the touch.

BelindaBidd

The only symptom I ever had was a red area on my breast and there wasn't any thickening or lumpinness. One night when I ran a low grade fever, I had swelling in my lymph nodes in my arm pit. That was when I had first started taking an antibiotic and the lymph node swelling never came back again after that. I asked the surgeon before and after about taking a skin sample to biopsy and he assured me that he would and afterwards that he did. There is certainly a scar there.

cantgetanswers

hi been reading ..sounds familiar, i had same sympyons, swollen red, itchy boob, nipple inward. surgeon gave me 5 days i.v. antibiodicts. didnt take it away got worse. on the 7 day i went for surgery, he said he took a abcsess out. but on mammo and ultersound showed no abscess...hmmm...now i  i have a sort of lump under and beside my nipple..what could that be?..please help. if you can..also my pathology report came back negative for cancer, he didnt take skin he took out a lump.