Was anyone treated for mastits and meds worked but still IBC

tonyap
tonyap Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

I have swelling that came on suddenly mostly my whole breast. Red and heat. My nipple was almost completly flat and inverted. Sharp shooting pains. Went to walk in clinic and put on Keflec for two days now. The swelling is better pain is worse. My nipple is now very erect and very sore. I have a large area of thickening covering areola area. I have had chronic mastitis for over 20 years continious. Green discharge and white thick substance been on several meds and had central ducts removed but still has never stopped. I have noticed for several months that my nipple felt like it was getting clogged had a hard not in it and woul get sore. When I put hot compresses on it and squezzed out some of the thick white stuff it would feel better but felt as if it had a bb in it. I know I should have went to doc sooner but after 20  years of being poked and prodded with nothing ever happening I guess I had learned to live with it. I remembered reading about IBC when I was trying to find out more about mastits but was never worried until all of these new symptoms. I am afraid my doctor will just assume it is mastitis now and not IBC. I am going to insisit on being sent to a breast specialist. My question is if it is IBC would the swelling go down with antibiotics. I am also using a heating pad regularly as it seems to help with the pain somewhat. I just don't want to make a big deal if the antibiotics do help and it can't be IBC. I am 42 years old.

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Comments

  • pbcc1
    pbcc1 Member Posts: 659
    edited December 2010

    NEVER be afraid to make a big deal of something. It's your life, and you need to protect yourself. If you feel there is something different or wrong....keep asking the doc or change docs if needed until you are satisfied that you have an appropriate answer. Sometimes they take things for granted just because "thats how it has always been".  You may have nothing to worry about, but I would have it checked out by a specialist. Good luck and God Bless !! Merry Christmas too !!

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  • nikola
    nikola Member Posts: 466
    edited December 2010

    Hi,

    some 15 years ago I developed hot, red and painful area in my right breast. I went to GP who freaked out (was not breastfeeding) and sent me to gyn-onc. He put me on antibiotics and said if it came down it was inflammation/infection. If it did not come down he would investigate further. Exactly seven days later it went away.

    Unfortunately, 15 years later at exact spot I was diagnosed with IDC.

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  • MichelleABCs
    MichelleABCs Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2010

    DON'T hesitate to get an MRI of the breasts. I sounds like you have had a complicated history with your breasts and need to look at them closely. You really need to tell  your doctor that you are concerned about IBC specifically so he will REALLY consider this.

    Michelle

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  • Tundra
    Tundra Member Posts: 136
    edited December 2010

    Hi there,

     Number one is get this checked out by your doctor. I'm hesistant to give you medical information. But from by very recent personal experience...

    They prescribe antibiotics as a way to rule-out infection... if the antibiotics don't work then they need to look into other things -- e.g. a biopsy.

    Get them to take you seriously about this.

    From my experience an IBC diagnosis can be tricky to get in a clear-cut way. But... a biopsy result  will me clear-cut and then you can know what's going on.

    Either way... if your breast is red and swollen and you're not breastfeeding... then your body is trying to tell you something that's worth listening to.

    Like you described, I didn't take my redness too seriously because I was used to living with a big fibroadenoma that would get painful and swollen now and then. Get it checked out. It's worth it.

    Blessing to you. Best of luck.

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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited January 2011
    I woke up again today with a red, swollen breast out of nowhere.  The same thing happened six months ago and I was treated with an antibiotic and diagnosed as mastitis.  I was told at the time when I expressed concerns about possible IBC I was told that it would not have gone away with antibiotics if it was cancer.  Now here I am again.  He put me on cipro and will see me next week.  He is baffled and said I might be retaining fluid in the breast.  He is thinking about reopening the incision to check things out.  This is my local breast surgeon.   Fortunately I have my annual breast MRI scheduled at Moffitt Cancer center in early Feb and also a checkup with that oncologist.  I am trying not to over react..............not easy.  So quickly all the memories and fears return.  Has anyone anything similar?
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  • thegoodfight
    thegoodfight Member Posts: 560
    edited January 2011

    Update:   I am responding very well, as I did last time to the cipro.  I decided to call my oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center to see what he had to say.  He really put me  at ease because he said cancer does not care about antibiotics and I would not see the symptoms disappear if it was IBC.  I asked him why I would be getting this, especially just six months after last bout and he said it could be from my radiation.  I am glad I have my annual MRI scheduled in a couple of weeks....................that will let me know if anything is going on.

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