appoint tomorrow- advise??

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queenjillybean
queenjillybean Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

i posted in another area (concerned and not diagnosed) and it was suggested i post here too.

i had a benign lump removed from my left breast in 2007 found in baseline mammo, followed by punch biopsy- my surgeon wanted it removed- i have not followed up since then...am a 42 y/o smoker and also a spine patient with 6 prior massive fusions which occupies much of my time and attention with regards to my health.

i awoke this past sunday morning with shocking pain in my left breast- it is in my breast- and is constant- i guess i could compare it to feeling like a rotten tooth in my breast- aches, and pain increases when i take deep breath- EVERY breath.  my left breast is noticebly larger all of a sudden and last night i thought i saw a halo like discoloration (reddish) on the skin around my nipple.  the pain is concentrated from behind the nipple and thru the centerline into the breast and toward the left side. i have had a few flashes of tingling in armpit and collarbone (both left)- but the most disconcerting is the unrelenting pain that has persisted for the past 5 days with zero change- it is enough that i find myself constantly grabbing my breast and complaining. i have NEVER had issues with hormones, or breast issues execept the tiny b9 lump that was removed from same breast 4 years ago... i am on pain management for my spine, so it is alarming to me that this pain is so blatant.  i searched left breast pain after the first 24 hours and here i am... i am wondering if ANYONE else has experienced anything like i have described? it is scary to see the reactions that medical professionals give with regards to women and breast issues...i do not want to be an alarmist, but this pain is really starting to concern me, and am looking for ANYthing to ease my mind, or confirm my concerns. i will be seeing a dr in the morning

thank you so much for any information you can spare 

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited August 2011

    Queenjillybean  take a few good deep breaths and try to relax a little.  Even though I know that is harder to do than say.  I know you are afraid that you have IBC and that is possible but it is also possible that you have an infection.  It's a good thing that you are seeing a doc in the morning as that will put all you fears in perspective.  Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

    Love n hugs.  Chrissy

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  • queenjillybean
    queenjillybean Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2011

    well, i DID go to the Dr today who ran an EKG (normal) and did a breast exam and i was told for the first time EVER that i have "lumpy bumpy dense breasts"- ummm news to me- then the dr told me 4 times that my lungs sound like "crap" and it sounds like i have pneumonia on my left side (same side as breast pain)...he sent me straight to imaging where i had a chest x-ray and diagnostic mammo and also an ultra sound- of left breast and left lymph nodes...they would take each test/ images to the dr and then i was sent back for more images- i was sent back to mammo 4 more times where they kept taking addtl shots of the left breast with added plates... of course they told me nothing- they never do, but was grateful that the womens imaging center took me instantly for all of the ordered tests- i was given the orders on the paper and told to go straight there instead of calling to schedule these diagnostics... i do know they saw something and were repeating tests over and over- what concerns me is my lungs as well- and the fact that my dr told me he was blown away by the "sound"- hence his choice term "crap" 4 times... i go back next thursday- i had a slew of bloodwork done as well- will get all results. dr said he may call me sooner regarding chest x-ray and gave me his cell number...not sure what to think- NOW wondering if any BC patients ever have had lung issues/ fluid in conjunction with constant instant onset breast pain... i DO have a mass as well on that side, but imagine biopsy is next- the lungs are scaring me...he said the thought i had pneumonia by the sounds and his exam, but i have zero fever or malaise- i have had numerous bouts of pnuemonia in past and am 10000% certain it is not- but why fluid in my left lung? can breast issues be connected to lung? dr also DID confirm that i DO NOT have any type of mastitis or cellulitis or infection in the breast...hmmm hoping for any insight- maybe better luck tonight- am nervous and in my world, i don't really have the option to be anything but superwoman...i am the opposite of an alarmist- i tend to ignore my symptoms- but with my risk factors (smoker and lumpectomy in 2007 and no follow-ups) the instant onset pain was rather alarming and disconcerting...i definitely took heed...funny part was in 2007 it never phased me during my ordeal- with regards to stress and worry- but this time, it gets to me at night...i guess i have always been super conscious as to the frailty that is life, and my conscience is speaking to me with regards to my smoking 

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  • Claudia413
    Claudia413 Member Posts: 114
    edited September 2011

    Queenjillybean,

    As a 4-yr survivor of IBC, former smoker and IBC advocate, I just want you to know you are not alone in this fight. After my IBC dx in 2007, my hubby and I both quit smoking cold turkey (we had no intention of paying $150 a month for Chantix for each of us for 2-3 months).  I'm wondering what you found out and hope you come back to let us know. 

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