Possible IBC

Annawilko

Hi all - posting from the UK as by far it’s the best community to share our concerns that I can find! Just under 2 weeks ago I noticed a weird scab-like blemish on the top half of my right breast. I still can’t think how it was suddenly there. I had no spot, ingrown hair, insect bite or anything i can think of that would have caused it. I didn’t think much of it but a few days later i realised it was bigger so GP put me on antibotics for a week. It’s now day 5 of antibiotics which are doing nothing. Inflamed, pink skin, sore, swollen, much bigger ‘scab’ that is weeping. Now being referred to breast clinic. Am terrified it’s ‘IBC’. Has anyone heard of this as a symptom?? Im 38, 2 kids, not breastfeedIng, no pre-existing health conditions.

Many thanks

Moderators

Dear Annawilko,

We are sorry for your symptoms and the worry that they cause. If it helps, here is what we have in our main site about Inflammatory Breast Cancer. This type of cancer is relatively rare so we hope that this will turn out to be something benign. Please keep us posted.

The Mods

LoriCA

Annawilko the last thing I'd want to do is to scare you - you are young for BC, IBC is rare and certainly none of us can diagnose over the internet, but I do want to urge you to please see the breast clinic as soon as possible. IBC doesn't present the same way for all of us, but your symptoms do sound very much like mine did and what concerns me the most is the weeping and that it's getting worse with antibiotics. Mine started with a small irritation at the top edge of my bra that I thought was a sweat rash. A couple weeks later I woke up one day with full-blown textbook symptoms of IBC and the rash was weeping, which turned out to be the tumor ulcerating (fungating) through my skin. But keep in mind that it could just be something minor and your bra is irritating the skin and causing it to weep. That's why it's important to get it checked out soon and hopefully get some peace of mind.

Please try not to worry too much (easier said than done) but please don't waste any time in getting it checked by a specialist. I truly hope it turns out to be something else that is easily treatable. Sending big hugs and many good wishes to you!