Inflammatory BC or Chest lymphodema

Gratner

One year ago I had a bilateral mastectomy due to DCIS. Two weeks ago, my left chest wall got all swollen and painful. I have a minor rash and severe thickening - also some swollen lymph nodes under my left arm. I had an ultrasound and my primary care doc said it wasn't breast cancer - it was a seroma that may need to be drained.

I saw my oncologist last week and she told me that she thinks it is chest lymphodema, but did a biopsy. I am not sure how it could be lymphodema because I refused any lymph node biopsies at the time of my bilateral mastectomies. I was too afraid if arm lymphodema.

My oncologist told me she would call with pathology results. I have an appointment with her nurse on Nov. 30 to have the biopsy stitch removed.

Does this sound like inflammatory breast cancer

KBeee

Fid they give you results yet? It seems odd to be lymphedema. It sounds more like cellulitis

Gratner

Hi KBeee,

No results yet. Tomorrow will be one full week. My oncologist said there may be a slight delay in the results because of the Thanksgiving holiday. She said that she would call me. I have decided that if the results show no cancer, I better get a second opinion. I don't want to be an alarmist, but I am really frightened. I think I have too many of the symptoms. The symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer are:

Pain in the breast - Yes, I have this.

Skin changes (pink or reddened areas often with the texture and thickness of an orange - I have a pink rash over the top half of my left chest wall (above the mastectomy scar).

A bruise on the breast that doesn't go away - No, I do not have this.

Sudden swelling of the breast - Yes, this happened/started/appeared October 28th.

Itching of the breast - Yes I have this.

Nipple changes or discharge - No, I do not have this as I don't have breasts/nipples anymore.

Swelling of the lymph odes under the arm or in the neck - Yes, under my left arm.

KBeee

You are wise to seek other opinions. I hope you get answers. Benign ones

Gratner

Thank you for the feedback!

My biopsy came out negative. My oncologist is scheduling me for an MRI. Hopefully, that will be clean. If that is the case, I will be scheduled to meet with the lymphodema specialist and physical therapist (as I'm having trouble raising my arm because of the muscle pulling).

KBeee

Great news!