Possible Early Symptom of IBC

Patsphotos

My daughter died on June 3, 2005 after being diagnosed with IBC in November 2005. She was 38 year's old. I wanted to share the following information because I have never seen it mentioned before as a symptom of IBC. About 7 months before she was dianosed she told me that she was leaking with what looked like breast milk from her left breast. I told her to go to her doctor as she was not nursing or pregnant. She did go to the doctor and he gave her antibiotics and it seemed to get better so she forgot about it--even though from time to time she would notice a little leakage. This just might have been an early symptom of IBC and if it could be identified as such, it could be a life saver in early detection.  I hope this message reaches someone in the medical profession who can look into it further.

Beachwalker

A friend of mine had blood come out of her nipple, which is a known sign of breast cancer.  She definitely had breast cancer, though not IBC.    Your daughter's discharge probably was a sign of breast cancer developing, even though it was whitish.  Your daughter isn't alone in the misdiagnosis realm, especially with IBC - many with the rash are treated with antibiotics at first, too.  So sorry about your loss.  Did you mean to say she died in 2006 or she was diagnosed in a different year?

Kicks

Your time lines confuse me - she died in June, 2005 but was DX'd in Nov, 2005?



I can only speak for what I experienced as all are different. The first I found was an enlarged lymph node under arm. Because my PA was out of town It took a week to see her. In that week it had definately 'enlarged' and she took one look at me and I was at Radiology that afternoon. After a NEW mammo and sono, a biopsy was done with the path report next morning - Inflammatory Breast Cancer.



There does need to be a LOT more education of medical staff as to what IBC is but unfortunately as only between 1% and 5% of all DX'd BC is IBC - that probably isn't going to happen soon. The "general public" (even those with a BC DX) needs to learn that all Breast Cancers types are not the same - just as individually - we are not the same.