Is Skin Thickening only in IBC?

sunnysocal11

Hi everyone, does skin thickening that is shown on Mammogram/MRI/Ultrasound only happen with IBC or can it happen with IDC/DCIS? Is Mastectomy Pathology Dermal Lymphatic Involvement as conclusive as Breast Punch Biopsy? My mom was diagnosed with IDC/DCIS in June. Decided to do Mastectomy first where they found the disease was much more advanced than imaging showed. Her breasts are very dense and imaging could not determine if her cancer was 1 larger mass or smaller tumors. Diagnosis was IDC/DCIS 9 cm 18/19 node positives. Stage 3C ER+/PR+/HER2- She finished AC chemotherapy and currently doing Taxol. The reason for this post is I was printing her documents to keep in a medical folder and the place that did her Biopsy (Contracted facility with medical facility) had an "Impressions & Recommendations" area that was left out of the Medical Facilities report that we received from her team and added to her portal. I am worried they might've overlooked something here.

"Original mammograms were again reviewed. Enlarged right axillary lymph nodes are noted on the original MLO view as well as skin thickening consistent with axillary metastasis and dermal lymphatic involvement. Imaging findings are consistent with inflammatory carcinoma with axillary metastasis."

This section was not on the pathology report that we received from Scripps (Her medical facility). Never did any of her oncologist mention a possibility of IBC. My mom had no idea she had breast cancer, 0 symptoms which is surprising due to the size of tumor and lymph nodes positives. She said she had no breast pain or rashes or any of the symptoms you would usually have with IBC, but her mammograms did show skin thickening on of the affected breast. Her initial biopsy resulted in a ruptured blood vessel which caused large hematomas and caused her entire breast to bruise. So from the time of her biopsy to surgery her breast was pretty bruised so unfortunately the Oncologists never inspected her breasts in "Normal Condition" prior to biopsy. Her Mastectomy Pathology report stated that Dermal Lymphatic Involvement was not present, but I do not know if this is as conclusive as Punch Biopsy. I've researched all weekend to see if skin thickening can be a sign of advanced IDC/DCIS but all these articles and medical reports only mention skin thickening as a sign of IBC. Hoping to get some insight. PS: I have already reached out to her medical team with the confusion on the documents and why IBC was never mentioned as a possibility as shown in the original pathology.

BarbTheBCBarbie

Hey there. Im right in the middle of my own situation. Was diagnosed with IBC recently. And really think it’s just IDC that I stupidly neglected and now has exasperated to look like “skin thickening” IBC. Im not in a good space with life,but wanted to tell you my story. My left breast had a tiny lump on my scar line 2 years a after my breast implant surgery. When I felt it I seen a plastic surgeon and he wasn’t concerned but did write me a script. That was 2 years ago. My dumb ass got caught up in moming, nursing school (yes im a nurse) and didn’t follow up. Kept putting it off. It was small, and didn’t really bother me. Fast forward a year and a half (yes…I know) I had this swelling, redness, thickness in my breast. My Breast surgeon I finally went to says it’s IBC and it’s no way related to the lump I had. she probably saying that because she doesn’t want me to harm myself. (Which I won’t because, I want to go to Heaven) But I feel deep down, it is. Im still waiting on all my results but just felt the need to tell you my non- expert opinion.

LW422

Sunnysocal--from the pathology it sounds like IBC is a possibility; however I'm sure you know that IBC is a clinical diagnosis and is subjective in some ways. I had two skin punch biopsies that were negative for carcinoma but I was still Dx as IBC due to skin thickening, a small pink area, and "nipple inversion" (though my nipple didn't look any different to me).

That said, there are other reasons for skin thickening that are not IBC related; many BC patients experience some level of skin thickening or skin involvement. It's up to the oncologists to make the determination based on observation and pathology. In my case, the MO, RO, and SO all agreed that I have IBC. Definitely press the doctor about what you read in the report.

Kipani

Can be IDC too