Very concerned about my sister..

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sophbail
sophbail Member Posts: 16
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

My sister is a very private person so sharing personal things is not up her alley. Our family has noticed over the past year that she has dropped a substantial amount of weight. Always asking her if shes dieting. She always said it was just stress. She is not one to go to the doctor.

Well I noticed about 3 months ago a terrible odor about her. I finally got up the courage to ask her about it (all the usual things bathing, depression etc). She denied it all but still I knew she had an odor.

Finally after many attempts she made a doctors appointment. He took blood work and sent her to a surgeon. She goes for a cat scan on Monday. The doctor slip said possibly breast cancer (looking to see if metastasized (sp).

She started with a small like pimple that opened (with fluid that came out), then it scabbed over. The scab came off, fluid came out again and is spreading.  It looks like an open wound with bleeding and pus which encircles the outer portion of her breast. She only showed me the top part (which looked really bad) and said the bottom was worse. She says it itches and no pain except once in a while a sharp stab of pain.

She is terrified and so am I.  Has anyone ever experienced this, if so please respond.  Thank you

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  • Jadai
    Jadai Member Posts: 182
    edited July 2009

    Please have them check for Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  It is a very rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.  Many doctors are not familiar with this and it is often misdiagnosed.  Catching this early is key.  My mom had similar symptoms as you listed.  I am truly not trying to scare you even more, just trying to give you important information.

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  • sophbail
    sophbail Member Posts: 16
    edited July 2009

    Thanks Jadai, She has been very secretive about this.  In fact she said she has had this for about 3-4 mos. now (we just found out about her symtoms in the past several days). Our mother just passed away 2 weeks ago from an illness and I think she was too concerned for her then herself. 

    She told me she was just too imbarrassed that she let it go so long. She said she changed bandages constantly but could'nt stand to look at it. I'm sure she did'nt keep as clean as she should have.

    She is terrified as we are. May I ask what they did for your mother?

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  • Jadai
    Jadai Member Posts: 182
    edited July 2009

    My mom did the same thing until the pain was too much!  They had to biopsy the skin since IBC isn't detected through a mammogram.  There is no lump but rather sheets.  They admitted her to the hospital and gave her IV antibiotics.  They suspected IBC but gave her the antibiotics to be sure that it wasn't just an infection.  IBC is often misdiagnosed as mastitis, an infection of the breast, common in women who are of child-bearing age.  Is your sister having any bone pain or any other symptoms?  My mom also dropped a significant amount of weight before diagnosis.  Just please make sure they test her for this.  Like I mentioned, many doctors are unfamiliar with this type of BC because it is so rare.  I hope I answered your questions.....

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