beyond lost in what to do,

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ashlymarie
ashlymarie Member Posts: 5

well ive been reading through and through this forum, and would like to tell you my story and would appreciate and comments on if this happened to you, 

leading up to oct 11' i wasnt my self, fatigued, no matter what i did. proceding into the month ive become more and more aware of my R breast becoming painful. i paid no mind and figured it was a cycle thing. the pain cont. on an off leading to my breast to feel "full" and itchy i had no rash at the time and figured my father changed the laundry detergent. well with this all procedding to cont. i kept on with my life and noticed a red mark, with almost like a rash surrounding it almost like a bug bite, and thats exactly what i assumed. by thanksgiving i noticed that the redness surrounding the bug bit looking mark has spread and my breast became warm, well in the begining of Dec while in the shower i noticed the mark was no longer a mark but almost like scally dry skin and when i washed over it it instantly opened. no blood no pus nothing. i thought to myself well what ever it was was gone now, little did i know that it never closed and the redness and tenderness increased as time went on. i knew that something felt weird because it stayed partially open and would only occsionally oze watery substance. well the mark got bigger from the original size of a pencil eraser to little less then the size of the dime, it was flushed to my skin. the redness and warmth kept up and eventually started to turn from red/yellowish orange  my Right breast became slightly larger. i finally convinced myself to go to the Drs and she immediatly put me on a week of antibiotics and sent me for a ultra sound and had me come back a week later for follow up after the antibiotics. at that follow up it was determined that the apperance didnt worsen but didnt improve at all and then started to talk about the possibility of MRSA or Cancer. she said the ultra sound did not show any masses but just abnormal skin thickening and she wants me to be seen for a biop. she cultered the wound and gave me a Rx for mrsa to start after i go for my biop the next day she also told me to  ask the surgeons opinion on the possibility of MRSA. the next day i went for my biopsy and after examining it he refused to do a biopsy until he got a diagnostic mammogram. after talking to him about why i would need that i brought up my pcp concern of mrsa and how i have a antibiotic to start if he believed it would benefit me. he was absolutely certain it was not mrsa but some type of cancer, :( and told me that to take those would be pointless and he wants to get the biopsy asap. so he set me up for a dx mamm two days later. while not taking the antibiotics for about 2/3 days now the swelling increased and the discoloration increased as long as shooting pain into my collar bone. i brought this up with my pcp and they ensured me to go for the mammo even though at this point it was extremely painful. well the day for my mammo came and went with the exact same results found from the ultra sound " extensive thickening " no masses. the next day my surgeons office called me and wanted me to come in that next day for my procedure, so i did. 1/20/12. and during the discussion he was going to cut out the wound and some surrounding tissue as well as going deeper but will stich it back up, he decided against stiching it jsut incase there was an infection he did not want to close it in,. ounce the procedure was done he told me he will send this out and i should know earliest thursday 1/26/12 by the latest monday 1/30/12 (which he made me an apt that day). he said the type of biopsy he did will require several apts with him to monitor the litterally hole in me only now about the size of a nickel - 3/4cm deep. :( its covered extensively with surgical bandaids and protectants. its almost been a week since the procedure and the pain has gotten worse the discoloration has completely dropped the bright red  look to just purple blotches. its persistantly more itchy and i noticed along the opposite side of the breast i am developing orange/yellow discoloration dots almost spots its still intensly warm. at this point i dont know what to do or think, i called today and the results are not in yet... has anyone proceded to have this experiance or biopsy. and with this story i am 22yrs old with extensive family history of cancer. my father has recently dx terminal colon cancer matast to bladder, kidney, prostate. at the age of 40 my grandmother had ovarian in her late 40's there is also insidences of skin cnacer / cervical cancers in my aunts. which makes this whole waiting proccess more difficult. i am also wondering if a skin cancer can cause the following symptoms. i have had several 2nd/3rd degree sunburns from child hood on that inperticular breast which makes me regret not listening to my parents about protection, being 22 and being put through all this is to much for me to believe :(

Comments

  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited January 2012

    Ashlymarie...I have no great insights into your particular symptoms.  But I wanted to post and say...hang in there...this is the most difficult part...waiting, unsure of the path in front of you, imagining the worst.  Frequently, once you know what is going on, even when it is not good news, you feel a little better, you will be able to move forward with a plan...knowing what you need to do and what your facing.  Also, remember that this could be lots of things besides cancer...so take a deep breath and try (easier said than done) to relax while you are waiting.

    I also wanted to post so your post doesn't get lost (called "bumping" the thread) until someone with ibc comes along.

    Sending you the best of luck and strength as you make your way through this.

    Claire

  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited January 2012
  • mrsnjband
    mrsnjband Member Posts: 1,409
    edited January 2012

    Claire, 

    Sorry to hear you are having such a hard time.  IBC can be difficult to diagnos and symptom can vary from person to person. It isn't always picked up on mamo's or us.  It took an MRI to find my IBC.  If you aren't happy with the results, I would strongly suggest you find a breast specialist. Hopefully one familar with IBC.  It's been 4 years since my diagnosis & I am so thankful for my breast specialist.

    Waiting is the hardest part, hang in there. NJ 

  • CLC
    CLC Member Posts: 1,531
    edited January 2012

    mrsnjband...I think you meant to direct this to Ashlymarie...I was just responding to her post and bumping her thread...:)

    Ashlymarie...I am sure even more folks will arrive with good advice...  Hang in there...

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