Worried about new redness. Could it be IBC?

Amandalp

I've been struggling with issues with my breast for a while now. It started out as an itchy rash that the doctor said wasn't probably yeast. Then I started getting pimple like bumps and they gave me something else for it. Nothing seemed to help but I've been assured it wasn't anything serious.

But yesterday it all of a sudden worsened. I have a large area of red, sore raised skin. I also have a dark purple spot that looks like a bruise. I called my doctor and I have an appointment for Friday, but I also decided to do some research of my own. I'm sick of not seeing any results with their treatment. Then I came across Inflammatory Breast Cancer. From what I've seen from pictures, I'm very scared that this is what I'm dealing with. I have had dimples skin under one of my breasts for about a year now and it's only gotten worse. I don't have in inverted nipple or rough feeling skin, but I do have swelling redness, soreness, and sharp pains.

Im attaching some pics to see what's others think. But also, what should I say to my doctor? I'm sick of being put on antibiotics that don't work. But she isn't convinced that hate this is not a big deal.

(Update it won’t let me post pics. I’m gojng to see if I can post them in a comment to this post)

djmammo

Amandalp

Photos of symptoms are not allowed in this forum.

IBC progresses rapidly and does not wax and wane. If this has been going on for a year, the odds of this being IBC are vanishingly small.

Ask your doctor for a mammogram, ultrasound, and a referral to a dermatologist.

https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/ibc-fact-sheet#q2

"Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and very aggressive disease in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called "inflammatory" because the breast often looks swollen and red, or inflamed."

"Inflammatory breast cancer is rare, accounting for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States."

"Inflammatory breast cancer progresses rapidly, often in a matter of weeks or months."

Amandalp

thank you for your reply. I hope it's not IBC. That fact that I've had issues for so long does make me feel somewhat better. I just worry about the new symptoms. The large red raised area is new (about 30 hours ago) and has grown a lot during that time. Hopefully it's just an infection though. Thank you for your reply.

djmammo

Amandalp

Call for an appintment today, let them know what your concerns are and perhaps they can get you in promptly.

Let us know what your tests show.

Moderators

Hi Amandalp,

Welcome to Breastcancer.org -- we're so sorry you're here and worrying.

We echo djmammo's suggestion to reach out to your doctor about your concerns and ask for an evaluation -- no one here can diagnose you and it will only give you peace of mind to have your doctor do some testing to get answers.

Keep us posted with what you find out.

--The Mods

Amandalp

luckily I called my doctor and was able to get an appointment this morning. Tomorrow morning I’m going to get an ultrasound. She thinks it’s possible that it’s cellulitis and not IBC since I’m so young (28) but she isn’t sure. The redness and the skin dimples worry her as they didn’t me.

Hopefully the ultrasound will rule out IB

Moderators

Great! Please keep us posted.

Amandalp

Early this morning I had my ultrasound done and luckily I already got my results back.

The ultrasound found no masses or cysts in the breast. But also no abscesses, which is kind of confusing since the doctor was hoping this is an infection. But I’m on antibiotics and if I don’t start improving I will go back to see her in a few days.

The results also found mild thickening of the skin on area tested (which I’m not exactly sure what that means or if that’s just normal?) and signs of scaring from previous small cysts.

They also made me fill out a questionnaire and due to family history and my medical history I will now be getting twice yearly MRIs at the breast center.

I’m not super worried anymore, but I did want to update this post to include my results in case anyone else experiences anything like this and finds this post.

djmammo

Amandalp

"But also no abscesses, which is kind of confusing since the doctor was hoping this is an infection"

You can have an infection of the breast tissue without an abscess. Breast abscesses are excruciatingly painful. People with a breast abscess can barely tolerate having someone touch their breast. These are often accompanied by fever, sweats and chills.