IBC Symptoms? and antibiotics

bookgirl
bookgirl Member Posts: 128
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

At times being information obsessed helps and other times not so much....I stated with a very itchy nipple, which then got scaly  and sore, the next day my breast, near the original lumpectomy scar was red and more sore. My BS thinks it is an infection and set me up with antibiotics. My question is if it is more cancer (like IBC or Paget's) will the antibiotics have any effect? Will there be a temporary improvement or if it is cancer will the meds had no effect? I am scheduled for a biopsy (# 5 since original BC DX in 08) Also was is more painful for the punch type? Hope this makes sense, I am sort of freaking out (seems to be my new normal!) and scared. Thanks

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited January 2010

    Hi bookgirl,

    Thought I'd bump your post up for others.

    While I don't have IBC, I am aware of it. I don't think antibiotics should improve IBC unless there is a secondary bacterial infection, perhaps associated with an open wound or such. 

     A punch biopsy sounds horrible, yet it's really pretty benign. Just a little Novocaine (a lot depends on the doctor here in terms of injection, given very slowly through a small needle is more like a mosquito bite...) and then a circular piece of tissue is taken. It's called a "punch" because the tissue is "punched out" of surrounding tissue, much like when circular rounds for biscuits are made from rolled dough. It's not like a staple gun, lol. Rarely a stitch is needed, this depending on the size of the biopsy and proximity to any blood vessel.

    I'll be thinking of you, sending good thoughts for you. Hope you'll let us know how you do.

    Best, 

    Tender

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  • bookgirl
    bookgirl Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2010

    Thank you so much for the kind and reassuring words. You are right a Punch Biopsy sounds ugly, so I'm glad to hear Novocain is involved  (i will add a little ativan of my own too) Thanks for taking time to talk to me I tend to let myself panic and it is really easy to feel alone then. My Husband is wonderful but puzzled by my anxiety, he is a constant sunny side up, glass half full, take the bull by horns kinda guy. My daughter is 16 and I try to take a smooth matter of fact attitude "doing what needs to be done" so she doesn't worry more than need be.  It makes me tired! Any way I go for the biopsy tomorrow (youv'e eased my mind there) I THINK the breast looks better but still not good. I will up date my infor when I hear something. Hoping there are no new letters to add to my DX! Bless you for the ear!

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  • Connie07
    Connie07 Member Posts: 636
    edited January 2010

    Hi bookgirl, I had a punch biopsy on the wednesday before Christmas... completly unexpected. She thought it could have been IBC simply because of the redness. quote, "Whenever there is redness on the breast we need to rule out inflammatory breast cancer". I took that news as matter of fact, but flipped out when I got home. she said the Punch looked like a tiny cookie cutter and she did numb the area first, and it took one stitch, removed in one week. it was in my scar from the DCIS - 2 years ago. dead fatty tissue formed a cyst they ALL said it was from the radiation.Two rounds of antibiotics later, I had a nasty yeast infection and the boob is still red, although not as bad.

    The worst part was waiting for the results over the Christmas weekend. THAT SUCKED.

    Good luck, please post and let us know the result, Here's to a B9 biopsy.

    ~Connie

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  • bookgirl
    bookgirl Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2010

    It's wonderful to hear it was B9, waiting for results sure can mess up a holiday! I had a biopsy for a lump (same trouble making boob) in Nov and the BS called me thanksgiving night with B9 Bless her! I was unaware of breast infections, other than those long ago new baby ones. I'm glad to hear the antibiotics worked. Thank you again for helping to ease my fears!

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  • bookgirl
    bookgirl Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2010

    Thanks Bonnie, Love your picture! Kittys make me happy.  I appreciate the punch information, my BS is very gentle and kind so that helps too. You guys are all so wonderful. Thanks for being there with kind words. My Prayers are with you.

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  • bookgirl
    bookgirl Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2010

    I have a week now to wait for Biopsy results. The antibiotics seem to be clearing up the "infection" Boob looks pretty normal! The BS did a core biopsy instead of the punch to see if we could figure out what was the cause and said the samples looked "good". I'm glad she is so willing to work with me. Thanks for everyone's support. I post again.

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  • bookgirl
    bookgirl Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2010

    My BS called tonight saying early pathology report showed atypical cells, not cancer, (so far) so I go in for an excisional biopsy in 2 weeks. (this will be biopsy #6 since this crap started!) She wants to find out just what my bad boob is up to, I appreciate the aggressive attitude. But I am tired of the anxiety! Thanks to all of you and my prayers are with you.

    Andrea

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