IBC at 19?

notallwhowander

I'm a 19 year old woman. Could I have irritable breast cancer?

Ever since my last period, my breasts have been very tender. As far as I can tell, my nipples are fine. They're getting progressively less painful, but I've been poking and prodding at them which I think irritates them more.

My skin is covered in little... dots? They're not really dimples. The skin texture is fine, I can't tell if it's peau de orange - mostly because it's been this way for years and I always assumed they were blackheads or some kind of dermal issue because I can pop them.

I can't tell if this thing under my arm is an enlarged lymph node or not. It's not hard or rubbery, but it looks like a visible bump. It hurts, but I've also been poking and prodding at it and I cant actually feel anything that I can't also feel on the other arm but I can see it. There's no rash and the skin isnt particularly hot. I mean, it is warm - especially under the boob - but not in a way that concerns me. They aren't enlarged.

I had them examined by my doctor. She poked and prodded but couldn't find any actual tumors, and doesn't seem too concerned - but I am.

Moderators

Dear notallwhowander,

We are sorry that you find yourself here with worries about your breasts. Is it possible that you googled your symptoms and are now worried that you have Inflammatory ( rather than irritable) breast cancer. That is a pretty rare diagnosis but if you googled your symptoms it might have led you to that possibility which can cause a good deal of alarm. The question is what do you need to give yourself some peace of mind. You say that your doctor is not worried but you still are. Have you discussed your on-going concerns with your doctor?Might you consider seeing a dermatologist for what you describe as dermal issues. How else can we help you?

The Mods

blue22

This really doesn't sound like IBC

IBC would be in one breast, the symptoms don't last for years, and your description of your skin does not sound like peau d'orange at all.

Sounds like you googled and found IBC - you most likely found pictures of peau d'orange. How do those compare to what you are seeing?

Beesie

IBC at 19? Nothing is impossible but if someone were to develop IBC at 19 it would be so rare and unusual that it would be written up in medical journals.

Breasts that are painful and tender around your period and then become progressively less painful sound like completely normal breasts. That's caused by the normal hormonal fluctuations that your body goes through each month. It's what I experienced every month for almost 40 years until I hit menopause.

As for the skin on your breast, if you've had this issue for years, it's not IBC. IBC usually comes on suddenly and progresses quickly. It's probabl just a skin issue.

Your underarm... the normal shape of a normal underarm includes a visible bump right around the middle of the arm pit.

There is nothing that you described that suggests IBC or breast cancer of any kind.If your doctor isn't concerned, you shouldn't be either.