IBC Worry

juneinpa

I'm going to start this off full disclosure: I have Health Anxiety exacerbated by the fact that my mother is currently battling Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer.

I'm also going to keep this short and simple.

(Details: 33, Mother to one, breastfed/pumped for 6 months, if that matters. Took HBC for about 5 weeks back in 2008 and never again, Approximately 30-40lbs overweight)

On my right breast, there is a very light patch of pink discoloration that I first noticed about one week ago. The area seems to be between two veins in a triangle, and then a round area of pink off to the side of the veins.

No itching, no pain, no swelling, no nipple discharge (although I haven't been squeezing them if we're honest) no lumps, no edema, and the area doesn't feel hot.

However, I do have a little discomfort in my right underarm, but can't seem to find any discernible nodes. The pain radiates down my arm, but I know that this is not the first time I've had that specific kind of pain.

I had a sonogram on this breast December 1st to follow up on some cysts, but one had disappeared and the other remained stable for a year. No other issues were discovered and I was cleared for yearly exams IF I felt anything new in the breast.

My main question here is, while it's highly unlikely that it's IBC, did anyone ever start with just the light pink (think blush) area? I'm not only posting for my own piece of mind, but this site comes up A LOT when you google IBC, but I haven't been able to find an answer to my question, and all the images I've seen of the disease are usually during treatment, which means it's been around a little while. In the future, hopefully this could help someone else too.

Thank you so much. I'm sure to all the seasoned vets I sound crazy, but in my head, in the middle of a HA episode, this is real, and it's scary. I'm fairly logical and level headed about it, but ever since my mom got sick...well, it's harder to shrug things off.

marie5890

Hi Juneinpa and welcome!

We all understand the anxiety that hits when something is going on with our breast especially when we have been taught to pay attention. Glad to hear that you are aware that you are prone to anxiety especially considering the awful situation with your mother. Prayers and hugs to you and your family. I lost a cousin to pancreatic cancer 3 years ago so I understand.

Here is a link that should help settle your concerns

IBC

I would suggest you talk to your PCP about what is going on in your life. If this breast issue. It may (and most likely is) a skin condition or irration.

juneinpa

Thank you. PanCan is brutal and (similarly to IBC) is almost always caught when it's very late in the game.

I had actually seen that link before, but again, it never really talked about how dark the pinkness is before it's a concern. I do hope it's just some sort of weird allergy or perhaps just the way the blood vessels are arranged under my skin. My best friend says I have "porcelain" skin, so I can see a lot underneath.

Kicks

I never had any 'pink/red/rash'.

Mamiya

This sounds more like a skin thing but get it checked out to be sure. I did have a pinkness but it was with some other more prominent symptoms like a thickening of the skin, a mass under the skin in a sheet, and heat.

juneinpa

Thanks everyone Thankfully, no other symptoms. I'm having a less severe HA day, so I'm a lot more logical and am thinking it might just be a natural but previously unnoticed breast color pattern. Or perhaps I pushed too hard while doing an exam? It's surrounding the nipple area which is obviously the squishiest area and most susceptible to bruising.

I will update if anything changes, I'm just starting to feel like in the absence of every single other possible symptom, it may not be anything.

Watching my mom go through her cancer for the last 15 months has really shown it to me with new eyes, and it scares me more than it ever did before. We have no history of breast, ovarian, uterine or cervical cancer in our family, but cancer as a whole does run in the family (Pancreatic, colon, throat, etc.) so I'm just trying to be pro-active.

marie5890

June (HUGS)....

Sometime, (and I say this as someone who has been down a rode with PanCan), you may want to talk with your Dr or a therapist about your anxiety if you haven't already. Especially if it's chronic. There is no need to suffer, and there are things out there that can help.

juneinpa

I just said the same thing to my husband. Our insurance should cover it. I have a 2.5 year little girl and I can't spend my whole life worrying about "what if" when there may not be anything to worry about.

I'm going to be keeping an eye on this spot but something occurred to me as I was laying in bed texting with my mom this evening. When I'm texting/playing on my cell phone, my lower arm rests on that breast. Right about the area where it's red. I'm pretty much always in a reclined position because I either lay on my bed or on our chaise lounge, and I hold my phone a little closer to my face cause my vision isn't what it used to be. Which might explain why the pink spot seems lighter certain times of the day. So I think I'm going to try to put up my phone for a few days and text through my laptop/desktop computer and try to see if the spot lightens at all.

I'd be thrilled if that was the cause. It's flat, no swelling, there is no pitting or thickening (although if I'm being honest, I don't know what skin thickening feels like, but I lightly pinched the skin near the red area and it was thin) and it's just like a blush hue almost under the skin. It's more obvious in blue/purple light and almost invisible in white light (I'm a photographer, I see light in colors LOL)

marie5890

That sounds like a really good idea. I have family members who have anxiety issues, and one who is Dx-ed with PTSD due to an traumatic incident. The help that is out there for mental health issues has been a god send, a real gift. There has been medication and therapy that have helped many people in my family. Nothing to be ashamed of, and yes, there is help and you don't need to suffer....

Prayers and HUGS!!!!

juneinpa

Well, I have an appointment tomorrow at 11:15 at the local OB/GYN office. I just have such a bad feeling, and I can't be sure if it's HA or a legitimate fear.

I woke up this morning and off to the side of the nipple was this line. It sort of looked like an allergen test line, raised and puffy, except that it was white instead of pink. (EDIT: This has since disappeared)

The pink rash is maybe a hair darker today but no bigger I don't think. There are three teensy tiny pink dots around the nipple but I do have one of those on the other breast, it's just weird that all three showed up at one time. They almost look like hard little pimples. Very tiny.

As far as the rash itself, it isn't one solid piece of pink. It looks like it in the mirror, but if you look closer it's more of a collection of pink splotches. Although it looks more solid today.

I still have the underarm pain, but I've had that on the other side just recently and I'm hoping it's just a stress response (Sweating from fear, etc) but it does hurt down my arm. I still haven't found any palpable nodes.

The breast tissue itself still feels the same as on the left, and I don't SEE any skin variations between the two breasts. Still no itching or discharge, and any itching feels like dry skin and is on both breasts, and is infrequent. I don't feel any additional warmth outside the normal body warmth. No palpable lumps under the skin outside the normal breast tissue. I'm almost a week past ovulation now, so both breasts are starting to go through their hormonal changes.

I'm just hitting major freak out. I'm glad they can see me tomorrow, but I'd have rather it been today.

Valstim52

Hello

You are doing the best thing by getting it checked out. I had a pink rash that actually got a little better with hydro-cortisone cream. It's better to be checked completely and follow your gut to make sure. I didn't have a sheet or thickening. Just the odd rash and later a lump and underarm soreness. There are so many things it could be AND NOT BE A CANCER. but better to know and go through the processes to be sure. much good thoughts to you.

val

juneinpa

I'm definitely trying to follow my gut. Unfortunately my guts have given me misinformation at least a dozen times in the last year.

The white line has disappeared, which for some reason is what made me call the doctor in the first place. It was like the rash itself wasn't enough.

The color of the rash is very very light pink. I can see it, but it's not necessarily the FIRST thing I see when I look in the mirror. As of yet my husband hasn't seen it but he actually struggles to see all colors (not exactly color blind but he can't see subtle variations in color) It does almost look a little darker today, which is why I'm glad I'm going to see the doctor tomorrow.

Our local hospital has recently teamed up with a woman's hospital in Pittsburgh, so hopefully if it comes to needing more testing, they will be on the ball.

juneinpa

Well I forced myself to get up and moving today. The pain under my arm had been getting worse so while I was exercising I reached up under there and sure enough was a swollen firm node. I couldn't (and still can't) feel it while lying down but it became more pronounced when I stood up.

Glad I am going to the doctors tomorrow. Feeling really freaked out now.

marie5890

Hang in there June! It's tough, we know.

The fact that you have some symptoms that are disappearing is a very good sign. But I can understand that you want to have some answers from a doctor, even if for you own piece of mind....

juneinpa

The lymph node is freaking me out. I remember when I had a breast exam last year the very nice nurse (who'd worked in a breast cancer hospital previously) said "If you can find a twin in the other breast, you can relax." There is no twin. And obviously it's causing pain, all the way down my arm.

I can't stop thinking "what are the odds?" because from what I understand, IBC is relatively rare. It seems like there are no official numbers on yearly diagnosis but I've read between 2000-4000. That's extremely rare. My mom's cancer is considered rare and only about 38K people get it a year.

And yet, I'm terrified.

marie5890

If it were IBC, symptoms would be getting worse, not better, June. Honestly. Lymph nodes swell for all kinds of reasons, from infections to having a cold. They are part of our body's defense mechanism.

Nothing you have posted sounds like IBC, sweetie. HUGS!!!

juneinpa

Thanks I sure hope you're right. So far, with the exception of the lymph node, nothing feels like it's gotten worse. The weird white line I had this morning MIGHT have been a really puffy sleep line? I am not sure. It was gone just a couple hours after I noticed it. But it scared me enough to call the doctor so maybe it's for the best it showed up, even if it wasn't related. (Although finding this node would have had me calling too)

juneinpa

Also, thank you for being so nice. Usually I post on a HA board when I have things like this happen, but IBC is scary, and no one is going to be as knowledgable about it as people who actually have it. Heck, some doctors don't even know about it.

And the kitty in your profile is adorable

marie5890

Oh you are more than welcome.

Although I don't have chronic anxiety, I have had bouts of acute anxiety and it all began with that wonderful kitty in my avatar. That is my Blues (RIP ) I had to put her down over 3 years ago, and within ten weeks, I had to put her sister, Rhythm, down. All the while their sister, Harmony, started having serious dental issues. I still have Harmony, now 12 y/o.

All of that, plus so other medical scares with my sister (ovarian cancer scare) , losing cousin to PanCan, and the loss of other family members in a 6 month time,step-father with Alzheimers, well, I became well aquianted with anxiety. So I do get it how difficult it is.

And by nature,, I am very logical and in my head.

When it comes to anxiety, even my being a logical and in my head sort of person doesn't help.

Anxiety is AWFUL.

juneinpa

Anxiety is the WORST. I'm still really strung out tonight, especially because I'm having some skin discomfort. Logically I know it's just from touching that area, or perhaps whatever is causing this pinkness is an irritation that has physical pain associated with it.

The pain under my arm is getting pretty outrageous too, running down my arm.

Still no swelling or heat.

My mom's cancer has started to progress, despite being stable for a year. I know I should be thankful we are at 15 months after being told she only had 3-6 months, but she's only 52. I'm also her caretaker. My anxiety got way, way worse when she was diagnosed, and it seems like it flares up again every time she has a setback.

I lost a cat back in 2008 who I had to put down and I sort of had a mental breakdown. I was young, it was long before my daughter was born, and man, I took it so hard. She was my GIRL. I have a distant relative of hers now, but he has some similar health issues that she had, and he's already almost as old as she is when she passed. It makes me nervous that I may not have him much longer. Actually he had some serious dental issues (stomatitis) and had all but his canines pulled back in 2014. This is after surviving the first 6 months of his kittenhood which involved a broken leg, severe URI, worms, ear mites, an eye infection, abscesses on both back legs, and just general living in a barn. (I rescued him at 6 months, and it took a lot of money and time to get him back to health.)

marie5890

That is what Harmony had. STOMATITIS. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. I ended up having all her teeth removed and she has been fine ever since. After that was resolved, she ended up become hyperthyriod, and when she was treated for that, she became hypO thyroid, which is more managable than hyperT.

WOW, June, your mother is my age (Im 51). I am so very sorry hear that there is progression. Is there anyone else who can help give you a break from being her main caretaker?

NO wonder you are a walking bundle of anxiety. SO very understandable. Wish you had something to take off the edge. I have family members who have been on Lexipro (sp?) to help them. For me, I used Valerian root (because I am at high risk for DVT, I have to be careful about anti-anxiety meds, so I try herbs)

Im also careful to stay away from caffeine (i.e. coffee and sodas) as well as sugars,etc.

Wish you were closer. Would love to meet you for lunch or something and just talk. I am willing to bet that you are fine when it comes to your fears of IBC, and that all you are experiencing is more related to EVERYTHING else you are dealing with and the anxiety. My sister took care of my step-father when he was declining with alzheimers and it really did take a toll on her health, too. And sent her anxiety thru the roof. She is the one who is dealing with PTSD now.

Like you said, Anxiety is the worse. It really is.

juneinpa

So far Ford is doing well with his extraction, it's been a year and a half and no issues. He still sneezes a lot (which my Miss Kitty who passed also did) but he is much more girthy than she ever was. We also have two other cats and a bearded dragon. My oldest cat is 15 and actually has cancer but we chose not to treat it because he is so old and it seemed cruel to put him through surgery. So far he's not in pain, eats, drinks, plays, drives me crazy

As far as help with my mom, no, I'm it. She lived with my brother and his wife for the first year of her disease and then she moved up here to live in an apartment building for elderly and disabled folks. She likes it because she has privacy and independence, but I am only 1.6 miles away (I know this because I walked there and back yesterday for exercise)

She is on a new chemo that may or may not help. The last chemo stopped working. If the new chemo works, it could definitely buy us more time. My doctors appointment tomorrow is actually between two of her appointments. My husband switched some things around at work so that he can take care of the first one and I take care of the second. (I should note that all of her appointments are with a toddler in tow, because I can't just leave her at home LOL)

I should try valerian root, my grandmother swears by it. (Incidentally, no one in my fathers side has ever died of any kind of cancer, and in my mom's side it was 95% her paternal side that had it, her maternal side was pretty unscathed.) My mom gave me a few of her Klonopin and that helps for about 20 hours, with 4 horribly anxious hours before bed. But I'm totally out (she only gave me a few) and so is she.

I don't do any caffeine because I get tachycardia if I have too much. Little bits of chocolate though...well

I do hope that this is just anxiety and that I'll feel better about it soon. I JUST had an ultrasound back in December but it only did 9-12:00 position, the pink area is in the 12-1:00 position. Plus an ultrasound likely won't find anything. (I did have a full breast ultrasound on both breasts in 2014, with repeats done on the right for cysts)

One thing I will say is that with all the information out there on google, and google images, that I have not seen ANY photo that looks ANYTHING like what I'm dealing with. Not one. Not under "breast rash" or IBC or anything like that.

marie5890

Yes, the more I have read your posts and what not, nothing you have said even sounds remotely like IBC. Honest. Sounds more some sort of skin irritation or maybe even a reaction to stress.

My gut, and based on my experience here at BCO and my own layperson's research, it's not related to any form of breast cancer. I've gotten to know what raises flags of concern when women post here with their symptoms. You haven't posted anything that raised flags, not even yellow ones.

juneinpa

I sure hope you're right. I'll definitely keep everyone posted, I hate when I am googling during HA and the post just stops and you never find out what happened.

Still a little sore BUT last week, I had a RED spot on the top of my other breast, and it felt the same way, but it faded and went away. Just feels like rug burn.

My arm is still killing me but who knows, that node could be from razor burn, or a small scratch that is on the breast that I did last night with a broken nail while I was taking off my shirt.

I'm feeling less anxious right now actually, other than the massive mess in my living room that my toddler left behind before bed

juneinpa

Ok had my appointment. I woke up this morning and the pink patch was slightly darker, and I still had the pain/swollen node under my arm.

Doctor checked the left breast first as a control, then felt the right. She saw the pink patch right away. She said she felt some fibrocystic changes (which isn't necessarily surprising, I was having regular ultrasounds for cyst monitoring) and made a comment about "well maybe some of that tissue is grouped together."

This sort of set off red flags for me because 1. I hadn't felt anything in that breast different from the left and 2. What exactly did she feel? I wish I'd have asked further but it's something that sort of occurred to me in retrospect.

She told me BEFORE she even looked at me that any time a breast patient comes in, that they will order imaging. So I knew she was scheduling a mammo and u/s before she even looked, so I wasn't really all that panicked about that.

Overall my assumption is that she likely isn't familiar with IBC but she also didn't try to prescribe antibiotics or creams. She told me to take ibuprofen for the lymph node pain and to use hot compresses on that area, but she never actually felt my nodes, neither under my arms or in my neck.

I just don't know. Considering right now the only things going on are the pink spot and lymph node (which could have even been caused by something unrelated) I guess I'll just focus on not touching either the breast or the armpit for a few days and see if that helps.

juneinpa

They just called, and while the doctor told me before I left that they would schedule the imaging within a week, the appointment date is March 3rd. Almost an entire month away.

I'm going to take her recommendation and try to get the armpit node down, and if it doesn't go down, and this rash doesn't lighten, or gets worse, I'm going to have to try another route.

juneinpa

I just wanted to update here for people who find this thread later in the future.

The rash has begun to fade, with a few areas turning a blue-purple. It's looking more and more likely that the "rash" was actually skin bruising brought on by an exam. The left breast also shows sign of bruising. I'm still a little uncomfortable because there are still areas that look a little pink between the bruises, but it hasn't gotten darker, bigger, or caused additional symptoms.

I do still have the lymph node, and have been putting a heat pack on it at night. The pain it's causing is making me wonder if it's truly a node, or maybe a hard cyst? My gut says lymph node because it's just that shape, but it also seems longer than a typical lymph node would be. I don't want to touch it too much because I know that nodes can get more and more swelling if you keep touching them.

crmnsuga1973

just finished reading your thread. Heat isnt what you want to use, use cold packs to bring down swelling, 20 on 20 off. Hope you are hanging in there and the node has gone down.

juneinpa

Well the pink coloring is still hanging on but it's looking more like a bunch of broken blood vessels, and the left breast has a similar pattern, which leads me to believe that it was in fact a bruise.

The lump under my arm swelled up when my period showed up last week, but the swelling hasn't gone down yet for me to know if it's related to my cycle, or just getting bigger.

I've had a little pain, more in this breast than the other, but again, it could be cyclical. Every now and again I get what I think is an itch deep in the tissue that I can't reach, but it's sporadic, and other than that, there hasn't been any progression in symptoms. I think I'm going to keep the mammo/ultrasound appointment in March though, just to be safe.

crmnsuga1973

always best to err on the side of caution, and keeping the appoint is a good idea. It's so hard when you can't tell if the changes are cyclical or not. Are you keeping a journal to document changes?

juneinpa

No journal really, this is the first time I've noticed this particular lump. When I first felt it, it was like a long, hard, unmovable thread of tissue. Now it's a long, squishy, moveable lump. Which sort of makes me think cyst. Just waiting to see if it goes back down.

I'm a little curious as to why my breasts are both bruising so easily. I fell asleep last night and woke up with little spots all over both breasts that were like little circles of broken capillaries. Like maybe my hand was under me while I slept and it left bruises.