Hi, I'm scared and need reassurance

katiebear16

Hi everyone. About two months ago I noticed that there was a rather large "a little bigger than a quarter" size boil/pimple appearing "thing" sticking out/raised at about the 6PM position about three inches below my nipple, almost in the breast crease (have to lift my breast up a little to see it good). It had a "head" and I put warm compresses on it. It ended up draining a small amount of pus and I continued to wash it and put neosporin on it. It would seem to get better then my bra would make the scab fall off and it would drain again, then one day I noticed a small hole where once the "head" was.

It wasn't particularly painful but it was uncomfortable with occasional sharp painful zaps. My sensitivity is terrible because I had a breast reduction about 15 years ago.

I went to a doctor about 10 days ago. The doctor called it a "fistula" said these things need to "heal from the inside" and gave me a six day course of an antibiotic. My chart note offically says breast "cyst" but she told me it was an abcess? She said it would be a good idea to get mammogram "soon" and didn't seem that concerned.

Well today I get a call from a mammogram tech regarding an "urgent 3D diagnostic mammogram"

Tech said that the doctor sent a referral to them to rule out inflammatory breast cancer?! And that the referral mentioned that my left breast felt firmer than my right breast.

I had a panic attack.

I guess I kind of agree - the left does feel denser and firmer but just slightly. But since I started the antibiotic the area that was raised has flattened out, I can't feel any pus/fluid underneath it anymore, and I think some of the redness has gone away. I also noticed my left breast felt a bit warmer but again just ever so slightly and I had been laying on that side for a while so it may have just been warmer from that.

So I tried calling the doctor/nurse back for clarification but they are closed today and due to nobody telling me, I missed the "urgent 3d diagnostic mammo"

Just wondering if anyone else has had a breast abcess/cyst or something similar that drained and ended up NOT being cancer

I know IBC is rare, and I did the "what are my chances of breast cancer" calculator and it came up with 0.9% chance of having cancer but I'm still anxious and looking for reassurance. My mom had breast cancer at age 45 (shes still living and age 60 now) and I am negative for BRCA 1 and 2

I'm not breast feeding and had a baby seven long years ago, but I do have large breasts (they grew back after my reduction)

Thanks for understanding

Beesie

"Just wondering if anyone else has had a breast abcess/cyst or something similar that drained and ended up NOT being cancer"

A breast abscess is NOT cancer. A breast cyst is NOT cancer.

An abscess develops from an infection that has not been properly treated. It sounds as though this is what's happened in your case. Antibiotics are the appropriate treatment. IBC is not improved by antibiotics.

Inflammatory breast cancer https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355413 "Inflammatory breast cancer can be easily confused with a breast infection, which is much more common. It's reasonable and common to be initially treated with antibiotics for a week or more. If your symptoms respond to antibiotics, additional testing isn't necessary."

Many PCPs and Gynes are not very knowledgeable about breast cancer. Few would ever have seen a case of IBC. So they often err on the side of caution but in doing so, they unnecessarily scare their patients. i've been hanging out here for a long time, and I've seen that happen too many times.

Anonymous

Beesie has the immediate question covered but I wanted to flag as someone who also had a reduction to stay on top of screening mammograms. I'm not saying there is a link between a reduction and cancer (there isn't) but when they've already had dense tissue removed and pushed around in surgery and may experience different changes to unreduced breast, it's good to keep a close eye on things that may be more subtle changes than an obvious lump.

Moderators

Hi katiebear, and welcome.

Beesie's response is spot-on. Try not to worry and give your doctor a call on Monday to get things clarified. In the meantime, keep calm, stay busy, and be positive.

Sorry you are worrying, but glad you're being diligent about your breast health!

--The Mods