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Anonymous

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wrenn

Do you have breast cancer?

More information will help

djmammo

Coolrunnings

It would be helpful to keep all your related questions and concerns under one topic heading rather than the half dozen or so topics you have posted under. No way for us to consolidate all your history, symptoms, findings and results without chasing them all down ourselves. Also the title "?!" gives us no information at all.

LoriCA

If I understand your posts correctly, you've thought you have IBC for over a year now and have had one negative mammogram. If it's been untreated for more than a year since you first noticed symptoms, I would think your symptoms would be quite severe and unmistakable by now because IBC is extremely aggressive. As to how long before it ulcerates, for me it was only a few weeks from first symptoms (but mine is super-aggressive).

The only way to accurately diagnose IBC is with a skin punch biopsy. I do understand how expensive insurance is if you don't qualify for a subsidy, but many doctors are willing to work with uninsured patients and the cash price can be substantially less than what they bill the insurance companies. If you do have late stage breast cancer you're going to wish you had that insurance no matter how expensive it is, it's still cheaper than treatment for metastatic breast cancer and IBC is very painful.

I suggest seeing a dermatologist who can perform the skin punch biopsy for you, and if it's not IBC the dermatologist can hopefully figure out what is going on with your skin changes and put your mind at ease. None of us here can diagnose breast cancer over the internet, you need to see a doctor.

Moderators

Coolrunnings we understand that the anxiety can often get in the way of seeking a professional, medical opinion. We hope that you are able to make an appointment to get these changes looked at. Understanding better what is going on could help alleviate your anxieties overall.