Not diagnosed yet but scared

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childersh
childersh Member Posts: 7
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

About two weeks ago my left breast was swollen and very itchy. I noticed a different texture to it. It was warm to the touch. I waited a while to go to the doctors. I finally went to the doctors today. I asked the doctor does it look like IBC she said what is that? Then when i told her she said no it just looks like a rash. She prescribed me an antobitic and some cream. But during the breast exam she foundt a lump on my left breast, she wrote mass on left breast with thickening skin. So I am going for a mammogram on Thursday. Should I be concerned??

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  • ibcmets
    ibcmets Member Posts: 4,286
    edited January 2012

    Sometimes mamos don't show ibc.  You may need a biopsy.

    Terri

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  • asmd
    asmd Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2012

    If your doc doesn't know what IBC is, you should be concerned. the mammogram request should be for diagnosic, not screening mammogram. Some centers are able to do mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on the same day. IDC needs quick treatment, and you may not have it-because other things could present similarly (like a bug bite and allergic rxn). But-don't mess around with this. If you are near a teaching hospital, go there.

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  • asmd
    asmd Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2012

    you're near u cincinnati, great hospital.  I'm not saying you have IDC, not at all. But the whole idea of testing is to rule out the bad diagnosis-always a scary proposition. You need to be your own advocate here-You could call UC, breast program, tell them exactly your situation, how quickly can they get you in. Or you could go thru er. I would act quickly, better safe than sorry. Good luck

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  • childersh
    childersh Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2012

    The mammogram they are doing is a diagnostic one, and if something is foundt it is to follow with ultrasound. Which these are do to the lump on my left  breast. But even if the lump is nothing i am still worried about IBC because of the rash on my nipple, and the swelling and discoloration of my breast. I dont think I can see a specialist at another hospital without my doctors referral. So any suggestions on how I can get my doctor to take this  more seriously and refer me to a breast spealicist or to UC

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  • asmd
    asmd Member Posts: 178
    edited January 2012

    call the hospital and they will tell you if you can be seen once you give them ins. info. If you need to go thru your doctor, look on home page here, and get symptoms of IDC. Then call, or go into see doc today-tell him these are my symptoms, here are diagnostic sx of IDC. I need to see a specialist now. He'll be worried about malpractice and should send you. If that doesn't work, go to er at cincinnati.

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  • chester2010
    chester2010 Member Posts: 101
    edited January 2012

    Hi Heather:  Sorry you have to post on this board with  your concerns and hopefully it will not be IBC but it is worrying if  your doctor has not heard of IBC and you do need a referral to a breast surgeon quickly.  My IBC started off with a rash which the breast surgeon in a major hospital told me `nothing to worry about`.  When I had a mammogram later on it showed |skin thickening and the nipple had inverted by then.  When you see your Dr. on Thursday make sure they take you seriously and maybe take a print-out of symptoms of IBC.  Good luck and keep in touch. We`ll help as much as we can.    Kathy

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  • bcisnofun
    bcisnofun Member Posts: 488
    edited January 2012

    I agree with the others.  You want a breast cancer specialist, not someone who you have to explain medical abbreviations to.  Not saying your doc isn't good, but when you're dealing with the potential or BC, we all want you to be with someone who does this every day, all day, and knows exactly what they are doing.  Best wishes

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  • childersh
    childersh Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2012

    Thanks everyone I appreciate it. I do go get my mammogram and ultrasound on thursday so I will see what the results of that is. If my rash does not get better with the ointment and antibotics I will seek a breast surgeon by the end of next week. Its a very scary thing to not know. I do have alot of the symptons of ibc...swelling, pinkish color, rash, itchy, a little pain, and the start of the orange peal  look so it scares me!!

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  • childersh
    childersh Member Posts: 7
    edited January 2012

    Well I got my mammogram done today and then an ultrasound, the tech said to me that my breast did not look like ibc that it looked like it could be pagments disease and should see a breast specialist. Then then sent me to ultrasound and they then saw something and took lots of pictures of it. But good news I guess is that they said they think it was just a swollen lymph node. Should I still be worried?

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