Swollen Breast w/crusty nipple

firestorm531

Something funky is happening to my right breast; it's swelling, hardening, the areola is expanding, my nipple is nearly gone and what's left is crusty (not dry skin, but dried discharge). It also tends to run warmer than my left breast.



This is also the same breast that was treated recently for IDC... During chemo, this same breast used to produce heat and become red. The lower, bottom portion of the breast has some texturing like an orange and the whole breast is sore.



It's hard not to be concerned after being handed IDC after getting my baseline mammo done lol



Thoughts?

melmcbee

Hi firestorm. Im sorry you are having problems with your breast. Is it red now? I wasnt sure what kind of surgery or radiation you ha if any. I just had a bad time of cellulitis. It came on quick. My last surgery was May 31st 2013. I was surprised to have it so long after surgery. I realized that it doesnt necessarily happen from surgery. It is the.weakest part of my body and just more susceptible to infection from scratches or bug bites or anything. I hope you can contact your ps,bs, or mo. Whichever you have. Good luck

ballet12

Better get it checked out asap to rule out Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  It's rare, but the symptoms match yours (not to say you have it, again it's rare).

firestorm531

I had a lumpectomy and 30 sessions of RADs that completed on 4/27/13. I'm not sure why my diagnosis/treatments did t show up on the original post.



My breast is really warm but the only spot that is red is where my nipple is (what's left of it). Both nipples have decreased in size but my right one is nearly gone.



I don't know if the changes are due to the complete lack of hormones or what. My mom had a complete hyst at 25 and stopped her hormones 5 years ago and her nipples didn't change.



I dislike how paranoid cancer has made me! Part of me wonders if its just a delayed response from the RADs and part of me wonders if its IBC. But then I convince myself it's not IBC because there is no rash and IBC (from what little I have read) tends to be ER/PR- and my initial cancer was ER/PR positive.



My cancer breast throwing off heat has been going on since chemo started; it's the swelling, pain, discharge and nipple/areola weirdness that been a recent development.



I hate calling in to my MO, it makes me feel like I've become a hypochondriac.



Thanks for chiming in ladies

melmcbee

Dont hate calling in. Thats what he or she is there for. I would definitely be at their office in the morning until they could fit you in.

firestorm531

I sent my MO an email...