Red patch on breast

Tja5908

For the past month I’ve noticed a red patch (about 3 inches by 1 inch) on my breast. It looks like a bunch of broken blood vessels. It comes and goes and and I now have random aches in that breast (that also come and go). Other than that, I don’t have any other symptoms. I got an appointment with my doctor in 1 month but she can’t see me sooner. I’m terrified it’s IBC. Is 1 month too long to wait

Moderators

Hi Tja5908,

We're just posting this from another topic we have started on IBC, and hope you find this helpful. This is not meant to be alarming, as it is very rare.

If it persists, see if your doctor can get you on a waitlist, and just keep track of the changes.

We're here for you!

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Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1% of all breast cancer cases in the United States are inflammatory breast cancers.

Inflammatory breast cancer usually starts with the reddening and swelling of the breast instead of a distinct lump. IBC tends to grow and spread quickly, with symptoms worsening within days or even hours. It's important to recognize symptoms and seek prompt treatment. Although inflammatory breast cancer is a serious diagnosis, keep in mind that treatments today are better at controlling the disease than they used to be.

The average age at diagnosis for inflammatory breast cancer in the United States is 57 for white women and 52 for Black women. These ages are about 5 years younger than the average ages at diagnosis for other forms of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, inflammatory breast cancer is more common in Black women. A 2008 study found that being overweight makes a person more likely to develop IBC. Like other forms of breast cancer, IBC can also affect men.

Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Although most breast cancers begin as lumps or tumors, inflammatory breast cancer usually starts with a feeling of thickness or heaviness in the breast. You also may develop red, inflamed skin on the breast. IBC tends to grow in the form of layers or "sheets" of tissue, which doctors sometimes call "nests."

The breasts swell and become inflamed because the cancer cells clog the vessels that carry lymph. Lymph is a clear, watery fluid that transports white blood cells and removes bacteria and proteins from the tissues.

Common symptoms of IBC include:

• Redness of the breast: Redness involving part or all of the breast is a hallmark of inflammatory breast cancer. Sometimes the redness comes and goes.
• Swelling of the breast: Part of or all of the breast may be swollen, enlarged, and hard.
• Warmth: The breast may feel warm.
• Orange-peel appearance: Your breast may swell and start to look like the peel of a navel orange (this is called "peau d'orange").
• Other skin changes: The skin of the breast might look pink or bruised, or you may have what looks like ridges, welts, or hives on your breast.
• Swelling of lymph nodes: The lymph nodes under your arm or above the collarbone may be swollen.
• Flattening or inversion of the nipple: The nipple may go flat or turn inward.
• Aching or burning: Your breast may ache or feel tender.

Some of these symptoms are similar to those caused by mastitis, a breast infection that can occur in women who are breastfeeding. Unlike inflammatory breast cancer, however, mastitis usually causes a fever and is easily treated with antibiotics. If you are diagnosed with mastitis that is not responding to treatment, ask your doctor about testing for inflammatory breast cancer. The same holds true if you are told you have cellulitis, which is a bacterial infection of the breast skin. Any persistent breast changes should be looked at by a breast specialist.

For more information, see Inflammatory Breast Cancer and Benign Breast Conditions.

More resources:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/understanding-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis/types-of-breast-cancer/inflammatory-breast-cancer.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355413

LivinLife

Hi Tja! I agree with the Mods about seeing if you can get on a cancelation list. Also, if the appointment you already have scheduled is with your PCP then consider scheduling with a derm as well. You'd likely need to get on a cancelation list for the derm as well. Often if there is something cancer-related going on there won't be a coming and going of skin symptoms though I'm no expert on these things. Just trying to offer some genuine reassurance while you're waiting on others' responses and your appointment.

ThreeTree

Tja - You might even consider going to an urgent care/walk-in clinic. I was so dragging my feet about my problems and so scared, and didn't really have a regular doctor at the time, I went to a walk-in clinic and the MD there told me she thought it was breast cancer, and she immediately arranged for an appointment with a surgeon within a couple of days. I also had what looked like it could be IBC, but it turned out to be IDC instead.

Best of luck to you - I really hope it is just literally a rash or allergy or something!