Itching with small red spot

lily14468

For the last couple of weeks, I've been noticing that my left breast in particular is quite itchy. It seems most itchy after I take off my bra at night but sometimes during the day, too. I can't remember how long ago -- at least a week, I think more -- I also noticed a small red spot, about the size of a dime, on the left breast. At the time, I thought I remembered having a bite or something there that I was squeezing/digging at and figured that's what caused the redness. But like I said, it's been like two weeks, I think. The area that's red is kind of shiny, so I can't tell if skin that is healing or if it's something else. The itchiness is over the whole breast and nipple, not just the small red area.

The itching on its own didn't worry me, the spot on its own didn't worry me, but today when I put them together in my head, I immediately thought "cancer!" and started Googling. Now I'm SO worried about inflammatory breast cancer. Since I started reading about it, now I feel like my breast hurts and I have started feeling tenderness in the armpit... these are not things I had noticed prior to reading about this, so I think it's an issue of my mind playing tricks on me.

I'm not sure how long I should wait to have this checked by my doctor. I had a similar spot on the same breast that I know came from squeezing a pimple (yuck, sorry) and it lasted quite a while. But I didn't have the itching then.

I guess I'm just looking for some feedback about whether this sounds as dire as it feels after spending so time on Google today...

MinusTwo

DO NOT GOOGLE. As all of our threads recommend, the advise is usually old and even more often a pure fabrication. If you must chase things on line, look for a research & teaching institution like Mayo Clinic, or this site of the NCI

IBC is extremely rare. Someone else will be able to post the stats. Of course you should get it checked, but I'd start with a GYN or a dermatologist. The rule of thumb I've heard is if it's been there for three weeks, call the doc. Of course it will stay inflamed if you keep touching it. so try to keep hands off.

lily14468

Thank you! Ordinarily I know better than to Google... I think my anxiety got the best of me today. The three-week suggestion sounds reasonable and actually helps to put me at ease a bit. I'll definitely get it checked out later this week if it hasn't gone away but even with just that little reduction in anxiety, I am able to see that IBC would be a very unlikely explanation.

MinusTwo

It's hard not to worry, lily. Hope everything is OK. Do let us know.

wrenn

Breasts have skin. Skin has itchy spots sometimes. Going directly to "cancer" for this is concerning. If it doesn't go away see your GP or maybe a dermatologist.

lily14468

I understand that it's a leap that itchiness and a red spot would likely mean cancer. I think it's a combination of pre-existing anxiety and all of the scary "she was diagnosed with breast cancer and died two days later" stories that I've been seeing recently. Thank you for the reality check.

wrenn

Anxiety is a very serious condition. I would see a doctor about that and stop visiting cancer sites.

Best to you.

lily14468

Thank you for the reply. I am being treated for anxiety and this is the only cancer site I've visited. I know that those of you who actually have cancer probably get frustrated with anxious women who come here for reassurance. I apologize.

MinusTwo

lily - mostly we get frustrated with people who let Dr. Quack Google infect their thinking.

We do understand the worries & we wish you well. Please do let us know what your doc says.

wrenn

That's ok Lily. Save yourself and stay away from this one. :-) . It will make your anxiety worse for sure. Wishing you comfort.

Mellymc22

Did you ever find out what the issue was? I'm having very similar symptoms.