Worried I might have IBC

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sonbird: the waiting is the worst part. I really feel for you. Hopefully someone who was diagnosed with IBC will be along to give you some advice.

Correct, mammo does not always pick up IBC. Mine was found only on an MRI after my mammo was clear.

YOu may want to see a breast specialist after you see your OB/GYN. Skin/punch biopsy in several parts of the breast is usually used to detect IBC.

Best to you,

Laura Jean 

Hi Michelle,

Oh, my goodness, please don't feel like you are stuck not being able to make your own health decisions because your family is paying part of your bills!  After all, they love & care about you, which is one of the reasons they are paying for your health coverage.

Of course, I don't know for certain, if it is available in your state, but try Google: Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP); include the name of the state you currently live in in the key words.  I think this program is nationwide.  That is, assuming you are in the U.S.

HTH. 

Those who have told you that a mammogram won't detect IBC are correct.  I had a mammogram that was 'normal' while I had IBC.  Even if the mammo shows normal, don't trust it if you still have symptoms.

Songbird, if it's any help, I have IBC, and my initial symptoms were not pain.  Rather I noticed the whole end of my boob felt very hard, and that's when I noticed it was darker than the other one and very swollen.  It was weeks later that I felt a little shooting pain, and then finally I got a reddish smudge mark on my skin.  It was a clnical diagnosis with a cancer surgeon for IBC.  So, after months of chemo and FINALLY surgery, the lab report said I indeed had IBC.

So, COULD BE the pain you feel is from something else besides IBC, is my guess.  AND since mammo showed no growths, then could very well be you have mastitis, I think it's called, where you get a dreadful infection in your boob, like you had before.  It just could be this one is worse than that one was, and since you have had one, it makes the most sense you have it again.  They should also listen to your lungs when you breathe, it can hurt a lot in a similar area, too, as well as your heart, and they should feel every one of your ribs (to avoid an expensive scan, even tho the Kirklin Clinic has a program to help those uninsured).  Keep us posted!  GG

Songbird,

Glad you are able to get the biopsy done.  Let us know how you're doing.

Terri

Hi songbird 123:

 You are absolutely correct. If you don't have a lump, chances are high that a Mammogram would not detect it. An ultrasound may help, if it shows certain pooling of the blood. As you know, because it grows in sheaths.....it is extremely difficult to detect.

 Sorry, I think your Dr. is off.....if you had it for a month it wouldn't be because you slept in an unusual position!! If it was me, I would definitely opt for an MRI......I feel this is the best (but doesn't always find it either.)

 As we are all different so are our symptoms. Mine was swollen, hurt off and on (but no big issue) and then became itchy as well. They definitely thought it was an infection and I was put on anti-biotics which, of course, didn't help. Mine was extremely strange as it would come and go.......at times it felt and looked completely normal. I was out of the Country for some time and to make a long story short; it could have been found at least a half year sooner (which is a long time for IBC). I truly believe had it been so, it would not have gone to the lymph nodes as it did.

I urge you, please look after it ASAP...... they could do a core biopsy....which I would opt for. I've learned a lot and blame myself a lot, you must be your own ADVOCATE..be firm and don't let them string you along and such valuable time passes.

I sincerely hope yours isn't IBC, and probably isn't..........but away you go, ASAP to have it looked after. Today I would do everything different!!

Good Luck

Erika