Skin thickening and redness only

Justducky17

Hey all - I'm in the same position as many, 32 yrs old and worried about a spot on my breast. I have a patch about the size of a nickel on the underside of my right breast, that is red/purple, raised, and peeling. No pain, no warmth or swelling, no raised lymph nodes, no other skin symptoms. My doctor gave me antibiotics on Monday and said she would order more tests if it didn't respond in a week, but there has still been no improvement. I was reassured that my doc wasn't too concerned, but now I am starting to seriously panic - I have young kids who were adopted after already losing their birthparents, and run a nonprofit that supports hundreds of kids and families and might collapse without me. My dad just died of pancreatic cancer two years ago. How do you stay functional through the anxiety, and has anyone been diagnosed with only the single symptom presenting? Thanks for any insight you can offer - I'm grateful for the support.

Beesie

Antibiotics take time to work - that's why you usually get a prescription for 7 or 10 or 14 days. Your doctor wants to give it a week. So give it a week. Sometimes it takes a couple of rounds of antibiotics in order to get rid of a rash.

Or this could be a rash or a skin irritation that doesn't respond to antibiotics. The skin on your breast is just like the skin on the rest of your body, a rash can develop. If you had the same rash on your arm, would you be panicked?

Monitor the red patch - but don't poke and probe and rub it, because that will make it worse - and give it time. If the area of concern spreads or if other symptoms develop, then talk to your doctor about breast screening. But for now, pursuing this first as a skin condition makes the most sense, since that's what this is mostly likely to be.

It is way too early to panic.

Justducky17

Thank you, that's reassuring! No, I definitely wouldn't stress about this elsewhere, but to be fair, elsewhere it wouldn't be a potential sign of cancer. I can't really vent my anxiety to my husband or mom, as they seem even more worried than I am. It is very helpful to hear from someone with experience and who has seen a lot of worried people turn out fine.

MelissaDallas

It is hot outside. The underside of your breast stays sweaty and damp and warm. Prime territory for fungal infections (a/k/a athletes foot under your breast.) That is more what I always think, rather than going to “the dark side.” I keep a bottle of Lotrimin powder on hand for stuff like this

AliceBastable

I had a regular onco appointment in January and she pointed out a red area on the underside of my right breast. That's the larger one because the left one is Ms. Stumpy. I used athlete's foot cream and it cleared it up in less than a week. I'd been going braless and Ms. Saggy had started breeding fungi.

ThreeTree

I second the idea of a possible fungal infection. Also, I can get a red area on the right side of my non-affected breast from time to time, and I have started to associate it with using the computer mouse most of the day. When I type, my right arm just sort of leans into my breast and puts pressure (although gentle) on it a good deal of the time. Again, with the heat, it is likely to exacerbate these problems.

Good that you've checked with your doctor and I hope with all my heart that it is just something like an infection or heat rash.

Justducky17

Thank you Alice, Melissa and Three! I have had heat irritation or fungal infections before, and they are a pain - this is not that. It is a thick area, almost like a soft nickel embedded in the skin, around the 4 oclock position and halfway between the nipple and the crease. It looked similar to a large bug bite but without itching or pain - the skin was red, purple and veiny, with some mild peeling from the inside outwards. I also have some natural tendency towards peu de orange and indentations because of large and fibrous breasts. My doc basically confirmed that it was similar to how IBC can present, but due to the lack of other symptoms she thought it was probably a rash.

And, I'm extremely relieved to report that this morning, day 5 of antibiotics and day 7 since it appeared, it has gone down to a light pink and is shrinking, indicating a skin rash or bite of some kind - yay!! My doc is still going to do a Lyme test, I think, to ensure the rash isn't from that - but truthfully, I couldn't care less as long as it isn't cancer. I really appreciate your kind feedback and calm perspective - fingers crossed this is the end of the scare. My heart goes out to everyone who didn't get that good news - the whole situation is utterly terrifying.

Beesie

That's great news! And thanks for coming back with the update.

Justducky17

Thanks Beesie - I won't totally be able to relax until it's gone, but I am feeling reassured, with it beginning to subside and no other symptoms appearing. It is just so darn stressful to feel something clearly off in that area. Hopefully this will be a useful data point for others in the future.

Ziggs123

Hi Justducky. I was wondering if the mark cleared up completely, as I am having a very similar situation and am getting worried.

MinusTwo

Ziggs - as posted often, call your dermatologist. That's who deals with skin issues.

Beesie

Ziggs, since Justducky never posted again after giving us a couple of favorable updates, it's a safe bet that her skin condition cleared up.

As MinusTwo said, if you have similar symptoms, see a dermatologist. For the quickest resolution, it should be addressed first as a rash/skin condition, which is what it most likely is.

Ziggs123

Thanks so much for your replies. I don't have a dermatologist as I'm in Canada and you need to be referred by your family doctor - who is trying to treat the area with a steroid cream first. I will make a new post if I don't get any answers soon. Thanks again!

Beesie

I'm in Canada too. Hopefully the steroid cream works. If not, ask your GP for the referral to the dermatologist.