Has anyone been diagnosed with IBC following treatment of DCIS

Givensboyz3

I'm wondering if anyone has had IBC diagnosis after they had been treated for dcis? I finished Rads at the end of June and I was feeling really good, breast was healing nicely, in fact it looked almost back to what it looked like previous to lumpectomy and rads. Suddenly over the past 10 days it has changed. It's become very large, dark pink, nipple has basically flattened to nothing, breast is heavy, tender and has the orange peel appearance. I saw doc on Wednesday, started antibiotics and there was no improvement. I went back to emerg today, they did an ultrasound, but they couldn't see any specific area of infection because my entire breast in inflamed. Blood work came back normal and I don't have a fever. They started me on a new antibiotic, so I shall wait for 72 hours. I just thought I would ask if anyone has had IBC diagnosis after radiation treatments. Thanks I need advance.

sbelizabeth

Givensboyz3, I'm sorry no one with experience in DCIS-IBC has been along to answer your question. It's probably because most of the IBC peeps were diagnosed with IBC right out of the gate, with no DCIS involved ahead of time.

Given your history and current findings, anyone who answers your post would tell you to keep asking your team of physicians until you're satisfied with their treatment and explanations. If the condition persists you might think about consulting a dermatologist and asking for a skin punch biopsy.

Good luck, and gentle hugs!

MTwoman

I may be way off base, but is it possible that you've got cellulitis? (bad skin infection) If you've had any lymphedema (could come after SNB or even just surgery or a trauma to your trunk/arm) then you're also at increased risk for cellulitis. I am also not an IBC expert, but haven not heard about this on any of the DCIS threads. I do agree with sbelizabeth, if your newest round of antibiotics doesn't clear it up, then I'd continue seeking answers and a dermatologist could be a good next choice. Good luck and do let us know how you're doing.

sbelizabeth

I've had cellulitis four times in the radiated skin of my chest, and I've never had it without fever, aches, and weirdness in my labs. But it's a worthy guess, MTwoman.

pupmom

Don't know anything about IBC, so I'll just say anything is possible in life. Best wishes!

Kicks

I am IBC.

You obviously have 'something' going on that does need to be dealt with. It would be incredibly unlikely that what you say you are experiencing would be IBC. Of course, only further testing and a Dr can DX anything.

ER are not equipted to DX any type of BC. They are for Emergency situations not just t

This Forum is for those of us who are actually fot IBCers and our unique issues as we are so few and ONC is so 'different' than other BC types. it states at the top that this Forum is for "Just diagnosed, in treatment, or finished treatment for IBC". You don't fit that. Especially as a first time poster.

Find out what is going on. There are other Forums that would be more appropriate to post in with you issues and no DX

Traveltext

IBC is a clinical diagnosis that would normally be made with symptoms similar to yours, but at the time of diagnosis. I've never heard of a case popping up post treatment, although I note you've had a lumpectomy, not a mastectomy, and I gather no chemo. An ultrasound is not going to show IBC and normally they'd do a punch biopsy of the skin.

Keep up your medical investigations and let us know how you go.

Givensboyz3

I apologize for posting on the Forum Kicks, I'm a newbie to this site. The oncologist has extended my antibiotic treatment and I'm hopeful this works. Thanks for everyone's input.I didn't mean to interject myself into the incorrect forum, please accept my apologies.

IBCCanada-CSICanada

Hello, thank you for your post. You definitely need to get a second opinion. Yes it could be a tough kind of cellulitis that is taking a long time to respond (breast infections can last for months and can require IV antibiotics administered either at hospital stay or via a pump that you carry around in a fanny pack but as you note there would be accompanied by fever normally), some kind of lymphedema, or it could be something more serious like IBC. Strongly recommend that you urgently get a second opinion. Please note that as Oct 9, 2017, I created the InflammatoryBreastCancerCanada association that advocates on behalf of IBC patients and survivors. With that, I set up a Facebook support group for Canadians that has about 34 members across Canada sharing information about IBC diagnoses, treatment, etc. I recommend that you get in touch with us through Facebook. I believe also that we have been put in touch by Terry out of Texas on email. Take good care. Best wishes, Yasemin.

(Edited by Mods to delete member's information. We strongly recommend not posting personal information on a public forum, for your own privacy and security.)