Risk of Inflammatory Breast Cancer 13 years after Stage 1 LBC

gjg2000

For the past four days I have had pain in my left breast. Yesterday I noticed that I have a huge red area on the bottom side of my breast and my nipple is twice the size of the right one. This morning I decided to go to the local ambulatory care center where the doctor did an Xray on my chest which showed nothing. He prescribed 5 prednisone 20 mg tablets one every 48 hours and told me to see my family physician within five to ten days. He said he did not think it was an infection hence the prednisone and recheck. Since I have already had lobular cancer thirteen years ago at age 56 what is my risk factor for IBC and should I call my former oncologist to see if I can expedite the process. I had a mammogram at the beginning of September that was negative. I have been under a tremendous amount of stress for the past year so I imagine my immune system is not the strongest. Any suggestions here would be most appreciated .

Thanks,

GJG2000

WinningSoFar

I got inflammatory BC 12 years after mixed architecture invasive breast cancer. So, it can happen. You should have it ruled out.

gjg2000

What is mixed architecture IBC? My history with the LBC also included an elevated CEA for years that never showed any metastasis on any tests. I had followup visits for 10 years with my oncologist and then was released.

Since Sunday I have called my former oncologist and have appt. scheduled Monday the 18th. I also returned to the Urgent Care Center and picked up the doctor's report and Xray discs to bring with me. I have a 15 year IBC survivor accompanying me to the appt. Dr.'s report from Sunday: Lump/Mass in Breast (611.72). Should I bring my mammogram pictures to be sure my dr. will have all that he needs on Monday? Anything else to do to prepare for appt. on Monday?

WinningSoFar

Mixed architecture meant that the tumor was partially lobular and partly ductal. Strange, huh.

If it were me, I'd take the imaging and the doctor's notes. I'm so sorry that you (and I) are going through this, but this is the worse time--it definitely gets better when there is something to do. I had chemo first, which had remarkable results shrinking the tumor 80% making it operable. Then, surgery which was successful with clean margins and no lymph node involvement. However, I already had some mets in my bones, so I guess the lymph nodes don't mean much. I've been "no disease progression" now for nearly two years and feel good.

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gjg2000

Thanks alexgram for your info. I saw my oncologist yesterday and he is sending me for a breast MRI that is scheduled for the 2nd of December. The reason for the wait is to make sure the effects of the prednisone are out of my system. I am also being scheduled for a Bone Density (DEXA) scan at the same time. The intense redness and pain I have had is diminished while on the prednisone. While all this is going on I am in the midst of moving to a condo and am on overload with everything else in my life since my husband has Alzheimers.

gjg2000

Had my MRI yesterday and received a call today to return on Thursday for an ultrasound and another mammogram. If necessary they will do a biopsy at the same time. They found something at 6 o'clock position in my left breast. Is it usual to do a biopsy on the same day as an ultrasound and mammogram? And how long do the results of a biopsy usually take? I have been so occupied with trying to get moved that it's kept my focus in that direction but today with this news I am very distressed.

alicki

hello,

They might want to do a US guided biopsy. I'm surprised they are doing another mammogram, but my surprise is probably because in Europe, they tend to avoid repeat mammograms due to radiation (I dont know the practice in US). However, MRIs generate a lot of false positives so they probably want to see if what they found on MRI correlates with their findings on US and mammograms.

It's hard, the wait is the worst, because not only do you worry but secondly you feel you cant take action.

How long do biopsies take? It really varies from center to center and country to country.

A minimum of a day or two and a maximum of two weeks. Perhaps people from your area could help you more with that question.

Take care,

Alicki

gjg2000

I went and had an ultrasound and magnified mammo on left breast but no biopsy. They told me before I went for the tests that if anything was detected I would have the biopsy that day. Radiologist looked at both and technician came back and said I could leave. I am under the assumption that all is OK. I have not seen any of the reports and am scheduled to return to oncologist on the 16th of December. Am I safe with these assumptions since the tests were done on Thursday and I've not heard anything? Friend that had IBC thought the procedure unusual and said that if I didn't hear anything yesterday or by Monday I was probably OK.