Understanding biopsy results - long standing inflammation?

DenverMom

Hello:

About 5 months ago I woke up to a swollen, very painful, right breast. I was nursing at the time and traveling so I assumed it was a clogged duct or mastitis and called my doctor's office; they prescribed an antibiotic but told me to come in if it didn't feel better in 3 days. It didn't so I went in, the doctor said she didn't suspect mastitis since I had no fever and no redness. She noted the difference in size of the breast and sent me for an ultrasound, which was normal. I finished the antibiotic and a couple of weeks later went back in because I had no relief from the symptoms.  Again, perplexed, she sent me to a BS for a biopsy.  The BS did not do the biopsy because I was still nursing and told me nusring is the cause of the pain, swelling, and noted thickness in the breast. She told me to take Vitamin E, see a lactation consultant and relax.  I felt very dismissed, and emailed her asking if we could instead do an MRI and asked specifically about IBC. She said she has seen IBC and because I don't have redness I can't have IBC.  She did not order the MRI because I was nursing and instead ordered a mammogram which was clear. 

Several weeks later I was still in pain so I saw my OB/GYN, she seemed confident the problem was yeast mastitis and perscribed an anti-fungal to take for 6 weeks. I noticed a slight decrease in swelling but she said I shouldn't expect pain relief and I didn't. I finished that, and also weaned the baby and within a week my breast blew back up and pain increased.  So, back to the doc I go...new antibiotic, suspicion of an abcess and/or clogged duct, and/or mastitis (though doc said, I have no fever and doesn't look like either).  After 8 days on antibiotic, no change. So, I go to a new BS who does a core needle biopsy in one of the places of pain; he noted the swelling and the difference in density of the breast that is tender but said he knows IBC and this is not it.  When I asked what it was, he said likely an infection, and I asked why then aren't the antibiotics working, fever, etc. He said sometimes they just don't.  

So, I heard back on the biopsy results, they are benign with evidence of "long standing inflammation."  I have a call into him to see what that means, but I was curious to know if anyone here had similiar results.  Again, I have swelling, dense breast, pain/tingling in the nipple, chnage in size and color to nipple, pain in breast, armpit, collarbone, and shoulder; and areas of increased tenderness. I suspect peau d'organce on the nipple, but it could be just the nipple?

I know I am being sensitive, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at 47, and we lost her 8 years later. She told me to vigiliant about my health as she wished she could have caught things earlier.  I am 34, 35 next month. 

Thank you for reading this long post, any advice would be appreciated in terms of understanding what to do next. After 5 months, 7 docs, 3 tests, and 3 antibiotics I am feeling a little weary and crazy. 

april485

Do you have a nationally ranked cancer center near you? If you do, I suggest that you contact a breast surgeon there for an opinion. Someone who ONLY deals with breasts and not a general surgeon. It seems to me that if 7 doctors can't figure this out, and that if you keep on having pain and swelling that something is wrong somewhere and although it may very well be benign, you should still be able to get some answers.

Perhaps if you go to a teaching hospital, someone may be able to figure it out! Either way, best of luck to you.

DenverMom

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will look into that.