Mastitis or IBC

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

First off here is a little history. I am 42 I have dealt with Chronic mastitis for 20 years. Never much inflammation but green discharge. I have been to every doctor and done so many tests. Been on several rounds of antibiotic over the years and even had central ducts removed. Nothing has worked. I just learned to live with it. Now suddenly my left breast was having a burning pain the next day I was at work and noticed when I moved much my nipple was hurting. When I got home and took my seat belt off I bumped my breast and felt the pain. I came in and took off my clothing to see my breast was enlarged red and my nipple was inverted. My nipple is very hard surrounding it like it is blocked. I put hot compresses on it so I could get some kind of sleep. I immediatly called my doctor this morning and with the holidays could not get in. I went to a walk in clinc and was given antibiotics for an infection. I remembered reading about IBC when I was doing research for mastitis. I am scared to death. I have a burning pain and get sharp pains through my breast. I have also had a sharp shooting pain in my shoulder blade area(not sure if it is related for several months.) I am worried that with my history they will chalk it up to infection and I want to make sure we rule out IBC. Does anyone know the difference between infection and IBC?

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Comments

  • ebann
    ebann Member Posts: 3,026
    edited December 2010

    I was misdiagnoised with mastitis. It is best you request a core biopsy to make sure they did mine the first day I saw my breast surgeon. Cause IBC does not show up on ultrasounds or mammograms. It does not come in lumps it comes in sheets. Antibiotics usually do not help at all. I wish you the best and I pray it is not IBC & they can figure out what is happening to you.

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  • Letlet
    Letlet Member Posts: 1,053
    edited December 2010

    I work in a cancer center and nipple inversion is a cause of concern - not saying it's BC! Do you have a gyn that you can see soon?

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  • tonyap
    tonyap Member Posts: 26
    edited December 2010

    My Gyn can't get me in for a month so I will be calling next week to try and get in to a new one. I had went to a breast care center in Indy a few years back I might see if I can be referred there. They seem to do everything in one day instead of where I am now they schedule everthing out seperatly and it takes forever. I started the Antibiotics yesterday and the inflammation is somewhat better not sure if the heat pad is helping with that also. The pain however is worse today. So sore to the touch. My arm even hurts. My nipple does seem to be not as inverted also. The antibiotic is Keflex and it is really making me sick.

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  • Lmerali0824
    Lmerali0824 Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2011

    Hi Elizabeth,

    Just wanted to know what was your treatment plan? My sister has been diagnosed with IBC,

    Stage iiib, Tumor 4d, Triple negative. She has just started chemo and trying to gather as much information as possible.

    Thank you!

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  • activern
    activern Member Posts: 409
    edited April 2011

    IBC is frequently confused with Mastitis and only a biopsy can give a definitive diagnosis.  Push for it.

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited April 2011

    You need to push for the biopsy, but if it clears up with the antibiotics, it most likely is not ibc.  I had all the symptoms without any pain.  I also had to wait 3 or 4 weeks to get into an obgyn to have it checked.

    Terri

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  • Claudia413
    Claudia413 Member Posts: 114
    edited April 2011

    Mastitis is an infection and you may have a temperature with it. IBC is not an infection and you won't have a temperature with it. That's the main difference. Oh, and IBC can be deadly if not aggressively treated. Get a biopsy from a BS who is familiar with IBC.

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