Shingles or IBC? Advise needed.

Aphrodite

I went to the Dr. (a regular MD not my OB GYN) because of a painful rash on my breast and under my arm. He said he thinks I have shingles and I went on some anti fungal medication. However, when looking on the internet, I noticed that the appearance of my rash looks more like IBC than shingles, and I did not have a fever or itching, just a lot of pain, swollen lymph nodes, loss of appetite and being tired. There were no lumps in my breast, but I have had them before and they seem to come and go. He says if the meds don't work come back.

I had cervical cancer before, also had radiation on a painful breast lump before that. Now I am in my 60s and can only imagine the worst. 
I have no health insurance, nor can I afford it. Within a year I can get medicare if they still have it.

Before this I had a terrible chill and cold that went deep into my chest. Before that I had been healthy. So I have had hopes cancer would never come on me again. I try to eat healthy and avoid carcinogens, although in our time that is almost impossible. 

The good thing is that even prior to the medicine, the rash. after popping up overnight, seemed to recede by itself….but then another, smaller rash popped out on the other side of the same breast like a double string of spots.

These do not itch at all. I remember when I had chicken pox. They itched like crazy. The Dr. said it is the same virus. I would expect shingles to itch. There were no tests done, just his physical examination. He said he has seen shingles before. When I told him I was happy that's all that it was, he and the nurse looked shocked. I told him I was glad it was not inflammatory cancer. They left the room without saying anything. So I just wonder if I have IBC and what I should do next….

Any advise will be appreciated. My heart and prayers go out to all cancer victims. It is so hard to go through it. It can turn your life upside down. 

Ariom

I just wanted to say Hi to you. I haven't the answers you want, but I can tell you that I got Shingles from stress after I lost my Father, and they didn't itch at all. I had them further down, around my waist, but they weren't a pleasant thing to have. There was a burning nerve pain with mine.

I'd say, take it a step at a time IBC, is a fairly rare cancer, so the odds are in your favor that it isn't going to be that.

If you aren't happy with the diagnosis you have been given, then I would seek a second opinion, but hopefully the rash will disappear on its own and you won't need to do that.

Take care and let us know how you're doing.

Kicks

I'm certainly not a medical person but soulds to like it very likely could be shingles or something else going on.;  I have not had shingles but did get the vaccine as I too had chicken pox as a child.  I have not read/heard anything about shingles itching - painful definitely.  Shingles are a LOT more common than IBC (only 1% -5% of all BCs).

When I was DXd IBC,  I had no rash, no pain, usual good appetite and not tired at all - just a swollen lymph node.  I was 63 at the time.

Keep on top of it and get back to Dr if it does not improve or gets worse.  Perhaps a biopsy of the area?

Aphrodite

Thank you so much for your reply. I just lost my Mother and was under a lot of stress. I am hoping the shingles diagnosis is right.

I have had cancer before and it is a terrible thing to go through. I just wish that all the carcinogens in our society were eliminated from our food, the environment and consumer products. It would be a far better world. One of the mutual factors in breast cancer tissue analysis done in research was that all of the patients had the common factor of a bioaccumulation of pesticides - particularly DDT - stored in the cancer tissue.

They started spraying roadside spray here in rural Michigan again. Two of my dogs were poisoned and bled to death. Two others went through long medical treatments including surgery and expensive medications for breast cancer. They are all gone now, but I still have to try to get the spraying stopped. I miss the dogs. They were beautiful Siberian Husky mixes….gorgeous, friendly animals. I know what they experienced also happens to people so I am very much against all carcinogens including farm and road chemical sprays. 

If I only have shingles it will truly be a blessing.

Thank you to all of you who responded. I do have a rash, but no fever or itching. I am tired and have pain. I am under medical care and this week I am also going to a homeopath. You are all in my prayers. I hope that there is perfect healing for all of you. I know cancer is so hard to bear. I am also praying that all of you have a good support system including good medical care and loving family and friends. My heart goes out to you.

God Bless!

MelissaDallas

Aphrodite, you said:

"One of the mutual factors in breast cancer tissue analysis done in research was that all of the patients had the common factor of a bioaccumulation of pesticides - particularly DDT - stored in the cancer tissue."

What is your source for that please? 

Anonymous

shingles generally is not itchy; it is usually very sensitive and painful, almost feels like burning pain. It is always only found on one side of the body and follows nerve roots. The rash is generally formed in a line (but not always)  and can get quite red, inflammed, and scabby looking. You can also have swollen lymph nodes with shingles. I had what the oncologist thought was shingles and they put me on Valtrex for about a week; it resolved. I hope yours do too.

Anne

Aphrodite

I have done so much research through the years, I am sorry I can not remember exactly where I read it. It could have been via the Rachel Carson Council ….I am not sure.

Sorry, wish I could remember. I do know that it was not something on Facebook or another social site…I learned that before the internet was developed. Probably around 1985. Or it could have

been in the book, On The Trail of a Pesticide by Mary O'Brien, PhD. I loaned that book out and never got it back. Or it could have been from the research archived in NCAMP. Wish I could tell you

for sure. Sorry…that was a long time ago, and at the time I also wondered why more people did not know about it and why the media did not pick up on it. It seemed a revelation to me. I thought it was something

that women should know….so they could try to avoid pesticide exposures. Of course, the chemical industry does not want that sort of knowledge brought into the light. They often suppress knowledge.