Stabbing and burning pain

SummerLeigh
SummerLeigh Member Posts: 15
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Hi, I am new and still waiting to find out whether my 2 large masses (picked up by an MRI) are malignant or benign. I was just wondering how those with IBC would describe their pain (if they had any) before being diagnosed. For over a month now I have experienced terrible stabbing and burning pain on my left breast, along with a protruding vein that won't let up (or down rather). The pain comes and goes and is nothing like I have ever experienced, and I have dealt with the pains of having a C-up at age 10, breast feeding 2 children, and developing mastitis 6 times. I also have tender spots on my breast (including my entire nipple) that make me nauseous when I touch them.

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  • anonymice
    anonymice Member Posts: 532
    edited September 2011

    The pain I had varied.  Do you have any of the skin symptoms of IBC?  Swelling, rash, dimpling, retracted nipple? 

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  • SummerLeigh
    SummerLeigh Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2011

    I have definite swelling, protruding veins, a spattering of rashes that look like burst blood vessels and some dimpling just above my aerola.

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  • anonymice
    anonymice Member Posts: 532
    edited September 2011

    Summerleigh, I wish I could definitively tell you it does or doesn't sound like IBC, but only the pathology can determine that.  The waiting is awful, I know.  Get drugs to calm you if you need them, and try to keep busy.  

    My pains started as a tender breast and did end up with some sharp, shooting pains.  Any kind of pain from it is hard to deal with because it just reminds you of the cancer, IMO.

    I think and hope you have a massively nasty infection, because of your history of mastitis.  But if not, you will deal with it - my pain was almost all gone just a few weeks in to chemo (which is doable, not like you might think it will be).

    Either way, you will feel better after you learn what you're dealing with - even those of use that get really bad news do feel better. 

    Hugs,

    Pam 

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

    I personally did not have pain with ibc diagnosis & bone mets.  I did have classic ibc symptoms-itching, inflammed red warmer breast, bug bite look.  Biopsy is the only way they can confirm.

    Terri

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  • Claudia413
    Claudia413 Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2011
    I had very mild pain before my diagnosis and didn't even get concerned. However, when my right breast got a red rash (I called it blotchiness) on it, my DIL and I did our research and came up with either mastitis or IBC. After three 10-day rounds (yes, 3 of them) of antibiotics and no change in the blotchiness, I asked for a biopsy to rule out IBC. What I got was a diagnostic mammo and a diagnostic ultrasound, specifically looking for the sheeting or nesting of tumors in IBC (not a solid lump usually). These tests came back positive for the sheeting or nesting and suggested that I should get a biopsy...finally. So, don't think you have to have all the symptoms to have IBC. I only had one of them and was diagnosed with IBC. Now I'm a 4-yr survivor.  Claudia
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  • SummerLeigh
    SummerLeigh Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2011

    They tried to do an ultrasound guided biopsy today and had a difficult time pinpointing how wide my masses are. The guess is 5cm on the Lt and 3 cm on the Rt. I am scheduled for an MRI guided biopsy on Friday but first on the list if there are any cancellations.

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  • Claudia413
    Claudia413 Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2011

    SummerLeigh,

    Keep us informed. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. The waiting is the really hard part.  

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