3rd Dr says something different.

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LiveStrongMom311
LiveStrongMom311 Member Posts: 56
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
So this Dr I saw today said she thought maybe it was shingles?! Or contact dermatitis?! She said she could see the scarring where I said the rash originally was. The rash hasn't spread or gotten any worse - and maybe it's a bit better, hard to tell when you stare at it daily! Its tender when you press on the area where the rash is/was. It's still somewhat itchy.....and somewhat "burns" a bit. I am NOT scratching it though and haven't for awhile. She did a full breast exam laying down and sitting up.

She said she didn't suspect cancer and that if it was IBC then I would have thick skin, which I didn't......and that the rash would still be there as it was or worse. She did suggest a mamo - like the other two Drs......I also have an ultra sound next week. So I guess I will still do both. If they both show nothing - should I be satisfied?! I just don't want to take ANY chances!

Thoughts?! So sorry to be such a pain in the butt here - just trying to be proactive.

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited October 2010

    A Mammo won't show ibc, the ultrasound might pickup skin thickening.   ibc is pretty aggressive.  In a few weeks, you most likely will develop skin thickening and will then need to to a biopsy. 

    Terri

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  • Cydz
    Cydz Member Posts: 157
    edited October 2010

    And shingles HURT!!! They hurt "deep" I have had them twice, I don't remember if they itched, but I don't think they did. It doesn't sound like shingles to me. You are not being a pain. You are wise to push as I think IBC is misdiagnosed alot, so you are doing the right thing by being persistent! 

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  • LiveStrongMom311
    LiveStrongMom311 Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2010

    Thank you.  The "rash" I had is pretty much gone, so now I just have the itch and tenderness.  I just don't know what to do.  I will have both the mamo and ultra sound anyway, just b/c I might as well if its available to me. 

    If the rash is gone though, what would they biopsy?!  Where is was?!

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited October 2010

    I highly doubt you have ibc with the rash being gone, but if you have the opportunity to get the mammo & ultrasound; I'm sure that will bring you peace of mind.

    Terri

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  • LiveStrongMom311
    LiveStrongMom311 Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2010

    Update:

    New Dr says NOT contact dermatitis and not shingles.  He said it was mastitis (I haven't had a child in 6 years and did not breast feed).  He said he felt no enlarged lymph nodes in my underarm, and that the tissue was a bit tender under the rash (which btw, the rash has come back....never completely went away, but now is back and still itchy)  He gave me Keflex to take.  I told him my IBC concern.....he said he has seen 3 IBC patients and mine did not look like the patients he treated.  He said they had large red breasts, etc.  He did say 2 of the 3 went on to live 20 years, so that's great.  

    3 days ago I started to feel very tired, run down, I have lost weight (about 5-7 pounds since the rash first appeared on Sept. 24)  I feel achey and I read those were signs of mastitis......Just wondering why if I had mastitis the flu like symptoms didn't show up until a few days ago - weeks after the rash developed.  So I will go for the ultra sound I have scheduled on the 19th, and do my follow up appt on the 21st.  I still feel somewhat worried - but this guy seemed to know what he was talking about. 

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  • lorieg
    lorieg Member Posts: 802
    edited October 2010

    Have you seen a breast surgeon?  I do know a few women whose rash resolved and were almost not diagnosed.  That being said, odds are you do not have IBC.  If you do not respond to antibiotics, see a surgeon, get a biopsy.  I was nursing and had "mastitis" which was actually IBC.  I had easily palpable nodes.

    Good luck!

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  • LiveStrongMom311
    LiveStrongMom311 Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2010

    So, I have taken 3 doses of the Kelfex. For three days I have felt very tired, I am hungry and don't want to eat, the pain is now going from my breast up to under my arm, I feel not well in general. The rash or red splotches are back and itchy. I am so scared and confused. Mastitis and inflammatory breast cancer have the same symptoms apparently. I have had this rash since Sept 24 and only started feeling ill 3 days ago, maybe it isn't related, I don't know. Does mastitis come with little rashy spots on breast when you are not breast feeding and never have. I read you need a lump for mastitis. My boob hurts, but not horribly, but enough to know that it hurts. It used to hurt only when I touched it, but now its just there. Would an ultra sound show mastitis. Oh and again not sure if this has anything to do with it, but since Sept 24 I have now offically lost 8 pounds......I am so worried.  Ultra sound is tomorrow.

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