Undiagnosed IBC

Snsn11211

Hello, I'm new to this community and am posting here because mainly I'm scared.

I have what I thought to be an abscess on my left breast. It has been growing for around three weeks. My doctor tried a few things and has now put me on anti inflammatories (four days ago) and has scheduled me for an ultrasound this coming Tuesday. This is a long wait since I grasped what might be going on. Is it true that IBC doesn't always show up on an ultrasound?

My symptoms are convincing and I can't imagine what else could be going on.

I am feeling so much grief, I have two sons aged one and a half and three and a half. I have been reading online that IBC has a 40% 5 year survival rate. Can anyone confirm this or update me?

I am in a lot of pain. I have been taking paracetamol but it now doesn't seem to be working. My doctor has just sent me a prescription for codeine and paracetamol, I hope this will work.

I'm wondering if there is anyone about at the moment going through the same or who could help to inform me a little!

Thankyou all very much in advance xxx

djmammo

Snsn11211

In all, how long have you had the symptoms?

How old are you?

What does the skin of that breast look like?

Snsn11211

Hello djmammo,

Thankyou for hearing me. Since breastfeeding my youngest I have had the occasional small infection under my nipple which has just drained itself after a few days.

This latest one started around three weeks ago. The symptoms were the same as other times so I just left it be, however it became much bigger and sore so I didn't want to touch it.

I went to the doctor who is an homeopath, he tried a few things and when nothing worked he put me on NSAID for 7 days, saying there was no infection. Today is day 5 of the NSAIDs.

The breast had swollen to about a third bigger, and an area the size of a tennis ball was hard and very red with a golf ball sized lump behind the nipple. The lump behind the nipple was becoming purple. The surrounding red skin was dimply like orange peel. Yesterday the pain was so intense that nothing would relieve it.

I am scheduled for an ultrasound on Tuesday. However I just had a shower and the lump started draining. Perhaps it is just an abscess, I cannot describe the relief. Maybe the doc could have tried me on antibiotics first.

Djmammo I have an appt with the doctor in an hour but you never know how much experience any doctor has of IBC, they may have never come across it. If my condition was IBC there wouldn't be pus, is that right?

Many thanks!

djmammo

Snsn11211

It is a common sequence of events for people with IBC to be treated with antibiotics first when the initial clinical impression is mastitis as these two conditions can look alike in the very early stages of IBC.

Mastitis is commonly associated with breast feeding and abscess formation is a complication of mastitis. Abscesses are extremely painful and relief of pain following drainage is characteristic.

Let us know the result of your next physician visit and any imaging studies you may have.

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In my opinion no one is better equipped to diagnose and treat diseases of the breast than a surgeon who is fellowship trained in breast surgery and whose practice is limited to treating breast cancer and other breast related diseases.

Snsn11211

Good evening.

Thankyou for your reply djmammo. I had my ultrasound on Tuesday. I'm in France so will be grossly translating some of the report.

The formation is hypoechoic with an anechogenic (necrotic) centre. Unclear edges, non liquified and accompanied by a thickening of the skin. Size of formation is 11mm x 30mm.

Says it could be a non liquified abscess but that the ultrasound cannot confirm that it is not a necrosed tumour formation. No abnormalities in lymph nodes.

I will have a biopsy after the 10 days of antibiotics and cortisone and another ultrasound. I am seeing my doctor this coming Monday, perhaps he can explain more to me.

Many thanks, again!