ultrasound and mammogram on Thursday

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beezelbubbles
beezelbubbles Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Hi, I went to the Dr today.  My right breast has been very itchy and painful the last couple of days, with pain all the way from my nipple to under my arm at times.  My doctor examined me and veered directly towards IBC being a possibility.  I've been booked for a ultrasound and mammogram on Thursday, 3 days away, and not soon enough as far as I'm concerned.  I'm aware of IBC's frightening reputation.  I don't have any redness of skin, and although my painful breast feels warmish to me, the outside of the skin feels the same tempreture as the other breast.

 I have a question for you diagnosed with this disease - what does the orange peel skin look like?  I hadn't noticed anything, but the doctor did.  Then she dismissed it as possibly caused by my bra.  However, my bra today is smoth, not lacy, and the other breast does not look like that.  It's a very gentle dimpling, kind of like goosebumps but going into the skin, not out of it.  I'm very worried, as, as far as I know, IBC is the only disease that causes orange peel skin.  The other possibilities the docotr mentioned don't.  Honestly, she scared me with how direct she went to 'We need to get this checked out throroughly and immediately'.  I don't know how I can sit through till Thursday.  I feel sick with worry already.

 I'm 33 BTW, with large breasts, not breastfeeding, and never been pregnant either.  There is no lump to feel, and the doctor didn't mention my lymph nodes being inflammed, but they were sore.

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  • chester2010
    chester2010 Member Posts: 101
    edited December 2011

    It sounds as if your Dr. is being very proactive which is good, as so many doctors dismiss our concerns.  Try to take deep breaths and keep calm.  I know it's not easy to do, waiting and worrying is just the worst.  But, as we all know, worrying in advance just adds to our stress.  Three days seems a lifetime for you but try to keep yourself busy with good friends who cheer you.  I didn't have orange peel skin so I can't comment on what it looks like, sorry. Hopefully it won't be IBC, fingers crossed and keep in touch.

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  • beezelbubbles
    beezelbubbles Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2011

    Was there a lot of pain for you ladies who were diagnosed with IBC?

      My breast is more painful and itchy than ever, especially after that mammogram - OW!  Plus my back is really, really sore. It's probably not related, but the pain in my breast and my back on the same side has me uncormfortable all the time. I'm also really tired and down.  And my head hurts.  My breast however looks normal still.  The most you could say is that it looks a tiny bit red in patches.

    Had my ultrasound and mammogram yesterday, both seemed clean, no lumps and no cycsts, but the radiologists seemed very keen to get me referred onto a breast surgeon.  So that's happening on Wednesday.  I'm still hoping this is nothing, but no doctor has yet suggested an alternative disease or condition it may be.  I'm finding it really hard to face waiting another 5 days, so close to Christmas, feeling like crap.  Which is why I've come here again looking for more information from those who sadly know from experience.

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  • ateepay
    ateepay Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2011

    There is pain associated with IBC, and there are other tests to RULE OUT IBC.  You can look at our website under this tab: http://www.eraseibc.com/research.html#research

    Look at the latest research of blood tests looking for circulating tumor cells.  Show this to your doctor and ask if they can do a biopsy and a blood test to RULE OUT IBC.  You will breathe easier if it is ruled out.  

    Patti Bradfield

    Patti Bradfield
    Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation
    Chief Educational Officer
    www.eraseibc.com
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  • Faith316
    Faith316 Member Posts: 2,431
    edited December 2011

    I did not have pain with my IBC.  My peau d' orange kind of looked like enlarged pores and dimpled skin.  Good luck.  I hope it is not IBC.

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  • itsok
    itsok Member Posts: 8
    edited December 2011

    You are very lucky your doc is proceeding ahead even if your mams and ultrasound seemed fine. Neither of those tools showed my IBC or a 2.5 cm tumor. IBC was diagnosed by the skin biopsy. Then I had a breast MRI that found the tumor, which got me a second round of biopsies. While I pray this is all an overkill and you dont have IBC, if you do your docs agressiveness can save your life.

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  • beezelbubbles
    beezelbubbles Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2011

    Looks like it was just shingles.  Phew.  The back pain was related to the breast and chest pain - they joined up in the end, going right round the side of my body.  I got very worried over the weekend as it got so painful I couldn't sleep, and a raised red rash appeared on my breast and the lymph node under my armpit was sore and swollen and a patch of skin went numb, but when I went to the doctors on Monday morning and I told her about the back pain joining up with the chest pain, she looked at my back and the rash had appeared there too.  Classic shingles, she said.  So no specialist appointment needed.

    Thanks for you support ladies while I was terrified.  I kind of feel bad that I got comfort from those who are living the reality of IBC while I was merely waiting to hear if I had it, and I don't.  I know my doctor was very worried - I saw her face go from serious concern to happy relief as I described how my symptoms had progressed in the week since I'd last seen her.

    Maybe if you come across another woman on these discussion boards concerned that she might have IBC, and she also has back pain, you could suggest another possibility is shingles.

    Thanks again

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

    I know shingles is very painful.  My Dad had it.  I am so glad you don't have ibc.  Enjoy your holidays.

    Terri

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  • chester2010
    chester2010 Member Posts: 101
    edited December 2011

    Isnt it crazy when we say "good, it's only shingles".  Thank goodness it was not IBC and now you can breathe again.  I do know that shingles is a very nasty virus and very painfull. I watched my sister suffer with it and I hope that the doctor can help with some treatment  to get you back to good health quickly.

    Best wishes for a happy holiday with your family.  

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