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LJI
LJI Member Posts: 15
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

3 weeks ago I developed pain in my left under armpit. It has progressed to my breast and the pain is quite bad. My breast has gotten larger and swollen. It feels the same as when i was breastfeeding. Sometimes the pain is shooting directly in the nipple area. The breats itches at times also. I saw my gyno and expressed concers avout IBC. He did not discount my concerns. I have a diagnostic mammo and ultrasound on Tuesday and then an appointment with a surgeon on July 7th. Please give me your thoughts and is July 7th too far away if I am dealing with IBC.

Thanks so much.....Linda

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited June 2009

    Hi,  Linda ~  Having your mammo & ultrasound as quickly as you are is great.  Will you get your results before you see the surgeon?  Waiting 3 weeks to find out the outcome would be hard, so I hope either the radiologist, gyno or surgeon will let you know the results as soon as they're available.  If you haven't already, you might ask the surgeon's office to call you if they have a cancellation prior to 7/7. On the other hand, that really isn't an excessive time to wait for an appointment, and shouldn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things if, God forbid, there is something that will require surgery, which I certainly hope there is not.

    It's so hard to venture a guess as to what is going on, but I can tell you that the vast majority of tests, including biopsies, are negative.  And I can't tell you the number of women who post symptoms similar to yours who end up not having IBC or any form of bc.  But I commend you for getting it checked out so quickly, and here's hoping all with be B9!    Deanna  

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  • Caseysmom
    Caseysmom Member Posts: 507
    edited June 2009

    Linda:

    The only  way to get a positive dx of IBC is through a biopsy.  Mammogram and Ultrasound do not pick up IBC.   My personal opinion is waiting 3 weeks is to long since IBC is very agressive the sooner you get it dx the faster you can start treatment. 

    I hope that this helps you.

    Keeping my fingers crossed that this is not IBC.

    Hugs

    Laura

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  • LJI
    LJI Member Posts: 15
    edited June 2009

    Ladies, thanks for the replies. Today I talked to a radiologist that I know who works at the hospital where I will have the tests, I asked her if she would do the mammo and ultrasound. She said absolutely. I know she will be aggressive in her testing. However, as you have mentioned, I know the only real way to find out is to have a biopsy. I am hoping that the radiologist I know can help me get  into a surgeon much quicker as she knows my fears.

     I golfed today and is was totally bad, I had such pain in the underarm and breast. Tonight I have been in tears from the pain in my pectoral muscles. I can see swelling in the left swide of the breast and the enlargement. My daughter could also see the changes. I do not have tissue changes but certainly changes in the size and tons of pain.

     OMG, I am so scared. So worried. I am not ready to face the IBC beast.

    Linad

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  • LJI
    LJI Member Posts: 15
    edited June 2009

    Hey Gg, you have not scare me. I was scared before. Can someone explain to me the extent of the pain they are feeling and, did you have symptoms before it became very obvious to you. My Dr. called me today because I asked for pain meds. We talked and he said not to worry because he did not see any changes to the skin. However, my breast is larger than the other and feels full, like when I was breastfeeding. Also, I have some puffiness in the area between the armpit leading to the breast. Thanks again. Hope I am not a bother. Tomorrow is the mammo and ultrasound!!!!

    Linda

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  • NYmom60
    NYmom60 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2009

    Linda, 

    I was recently diagnosed with IBC, initially by the breast surgeon. What sent me to my gyn was that I had felt a lump (which is not usual for IBC).  My gyn send me for a mamo and ultrasound and then I was referred to a breast surgeon. At this point no one had mentioned IBC. I went to see the surgeon 2 weeks later and he noticed changes to my breast that I hadn't noticed (was I clueless!). It was more swollen than the other and a small section of skin exhibited peau d'orange.  I had experienced some itching and shooting pains once or twice, but I never gave it much thought. Core needle biopsy confirmed breast cancer. I then had an MRI which confirmed IBC although my skin biopsy came back negative, however this can happen with IBC.
    If possible, I would try to get an appointment sooner than 7/7.  The sooner the better to hopefully put your mind at ease or to start treatment asap if necessary. I hope and pray you do not have it. Good luck!
     
    Monika 
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  • NYmom60
    NYmom60 Member Posts: 44
    edited June 2009

    Linda,

    I was recently diagnosed with IBC, initially by the breast surgeon. What sent me to my gyn was that I had felt a lump (which is not usual for IBC).  My gyn sent me for a mamo and ultrasound and then I was referred to a breast surgeon. At this point no one had mentioned IBC. I went to see the surgeon 2 weeks later and he noticed changes to my breast that I hadn't noticed (was I clueless!). It was more swollen than the other and a small section of skin exhibited peau d'orange.  I had experienced some itching and shooting pains once or twice, but I never gave it much thought. Core needle biopsy confirmed breast cancer. I then had an MRI which confirmed IBC although my skin biopsy came back negative, however this can happen with IBC.

    If possible, I would try to get an appointment sooner than 7/7.  The sooner the better to hopefully put your mind at ease or to start treatment asap if necessary. I hope and pray you do not have it. Good luck!

    Monika 

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  • MidwestAlice
    MidwestAlice Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2009

    Hi Linda,

    I just stopped in to research the resent news about a breakthrough in a protein identified in IBC and I saw your post.  As you can see I am a IBC survivor. After your biopsy and if you have IBC I suggest that you call MD Anderson IBC clinic in Texas.. Where do you live? I live in Indiana and go to MDA every three months right now.  There is great treatment out there at local and regional medical centers. Since there are very few of us with IBC you may want to go to a medical center that sees alot of it.Everything will be ok, I am sending hope and prayers.I am not on here often so if you have any questions you can PM me and it will go to my email.

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  • LJI
    LJI Member Posts: 15
    edited June 2009

    Hi Ladies. Thank you for the responses. I appreciate it.

    I had my mammo and ultrasound this morning. The mammo showed some changes in the area I have been complaining about. Something about the vessels not going to breast but sort of changing direction!!! Ultrasound showed nothing. The radiologist wants me to have an MRI before I see the surgeon on 7/7 so that he has all images possible. 

    What do you think.

    Thanks for you help and support.

    Linda

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