IBC Worry, should I be pushing Dr for more tests?

Jennem14

Hi there,

I have some red patched on my breast. I have a big one on the underside of my breast and a small one near the top and one in my cleavage. I have been to the Dr 3x now for this. I've had them for about a month now. The Dr first thought it was plugged ducts as I am nursing my 20 month old daughter still and I had been taking lactation cookies at the time. After 2 weeks they weren't gone, so she sent me for an ultrasound. I got my results 2 weeks later and it found no abnormalities. I'm so worried it's IBC and it's being missed. My Dr said she can refer me to breast specialist, but she doesn't think there is anything to worry about and also told me to get cancer out of my head. The rash looks lighter or almost not visible sometimes. Other times it is still very prominent. I've also red that IBC rash can come and go,and that it doesn't always show up on an ultrasound. I should add, other than the redness I have no other symptoms. No pain, no itchiness, no nipple changes. Literally just redness.

I'm so sick with worry

I have two young children. I just want this all to go away. I'm going to call my dr ask to see the breast specialist tomorrow. I guess I'm just looking for any other ideas as to what this could be. No one else seems to be as concerned as I am. Should I be pushing for more tests?

MelissaDallas

IBC doesn't come and go. It progresses very rapidly. In days, if not hours. Most skin issues are just that-skin problems. Fungal infections, like athletes foot, and other common skin infections are very common on warm, damp breasts, but even those wouldn't just come and go

Jennem14

@MelissaDallas thank you, that does make me feel better. It's never totally gone, but incredibly faded. Then it seems like the more I hold my breast up and look at it, it gets darker and more noticeable. This is reassuring though. Thank you.

MelissaDallas

Also, the average age at diagnosis with IBC is SIXTY.

Jennem14

MelissaDallas,

Do you know if It's typical for IBC rash to blanch away? Or change based on temperature? Like when I get out of the shower the rash is flared up and super obvious. But if I don't wear a bra all day and nurse my daughter less it's incredibly faded, still visible but faded, until I start lifting my breast and examining it, trying to convince myself it's not IBC then making It worse again. I still have no other symptoms. Dr doesn't think it's a skin issue or anything like that. She really doesn't know. I still haven't heard from the breast specialist.... Sorry to bug you haha my anxiety is just intense this morning.

mustlovepoodles

No, IBC does not take turns looking better or worse. It gets rapidly and progressively worse over a matter of a few days. We obviously don't know what you have there, but I'd bet you my entire paycheck that it's not IBC. Have you seen a dermatology yet?

Jennem14

Mustlovepoodles thank you! This is so re-assuring. Still frustrated that I have something there, but knowing that the chances of it being IBC are slim is helping my anxiety. I wish I had an answer as to what it is, as opposed to "stop looking at It and hopefully it goes away"

Traveltext

Jennem14, agree with others here, you really aren’t showing classic IBC symptoms.

Stephanie_strong

one other possibility is Morphea of the breast vs IBC and a Morphea rash can last for years.