Is this IBC?

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Angel84
Angel84 Member Posts: 25
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Hello!

I am writing this since my mom who is 60y old was diagnosed with breast cancer 1 month ago. Doctors found 1 mass 13mm in highest measure on ultrasound, mamograph didnt find anything and her surgery was scheduled for today.

Now, i would even consider this type of cancer, but in my country biopsy is not done before but during surgery, so today, she had a mastectomy, her lymph nodes weren't touched i saw her scar which is only on below breast), but, after, she was given antibiotics 'cause, what doctor said, mastitis was found during surgery (which i found on internet means inflammation of mammary nodes).

Results from surgical biopsy will be in 10-12 days, and since I have no knowledge about breast cancer, can you tell me, does this inflammation means that is certainly IBC, and if it is,  are there any bad consequences of doing mastectomy before chemo for IBC?

Thank you very much!

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

    Angel,

    Usually with IBC, there is not a mass (although I had an idc tumor along with ibc about 3.5cm)  I'm sure they will test the tumor for hormone status and to see what type of cancer she has.  In the US, the protocal for ibc is chemo, surgery then radiation.  Some find ibc after they had surgery.

    I'm sure you'll know much more once tissue is tested.

    Terri

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2012

    Not understanding - no biopsy?  How did they think it was cancer?  Why a mast. when such a small 13mm 'lump' without knowing the type IF it did finally turn out to be a cancer?  (80% of 'lumps found are non-cancerous.)

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2012

    Well, she did ultrasound and mammography in January and had only 1 cist 9mm, then in May ultrasound, same cyst 9mm, and then in October, 2 cysts, 1 9mm other 13mm so tehy thought this other one was not benign. They did mastectomy 'cause my mother had small breasts, and after surgery doctor said that the first cyst was benign and the other one was not.

    Why not biopsy first? No idea really, guess it's not a procedure here. Doctor also said he didnt see anything under arm, but they took a sample so surgical biopsy will probably give more info.

    I guess they were sure it was not benign since it was not found on ultrasound in May, and was there in October...

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2012

    Where are you?

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2012

    I live in Europe, Serbia.

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2012

    Doctor said it is IBC :((((    (Actually he said it is the most aggresive form of cancer (number 5)...he can't say ibc without biopsy obviously).

    He said he took out all the lymph nodes and now I can only write how the doctors killed my mother. :((( She is waiting for the byopsy results now 10 days and she should have done chemo first then mastectomy. Now nothing can be done...dont know what to say really...

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited November 2012

    Does anyone please know what would be now the best course of treatment sice mastectomy was already done? Should we demand immediate chemo ( I dont know even if this is possible right after surgery) or smth else. I feel so helpless and I can't trust doctors anymore. Mastectomy was already done, and I can't turn back time, so what would be the best course of action from now?

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2012

    Imflammation in the breast does not equate to Inflammatory Breast Cancer.  Many can/will have inflammation in the breast and have no issues with cancer at all.

    Inflammatory Breast Cancer usually does not 'hang around'  from one Jan to the next Nov without becoming HUGE and spreading to the entire body. So as small as your Mom's tumors were that's great.  In my case I could feel nothing under my arm one day and the next night there was an enlarged node that was about 3 cm.  In the week it tok me to get into see my PA it had become quite obvious with greatly enlarged breast and peau d'orange skin (orange peel texture).  It often does not present on a mammogram.  It doea not form 'lumps' but forms in 'nests' or 'bands' that neo-adjuvant chemo can shrink and get to form a lump with margins.

    Inflammatory Breast Cancer is in the nodes and thus skin that is why it is so aggressive.  It is also modified by the ER/PR and HER2 status.  Once you mentioned that you were told that no nodes were taken but then say that all were?

    There are still IF she is Inflammatory Breast Cancer and not Invasive/Infiltrating Ductal/Lobular Breast Cancer there are still many options to pursue.

    If she can not talk to her DR and get answers - then needs to get a second opinion.  Bottom line is unless she has been deemed incompetant and you are her legal guardian (at least here in the States), she is the only one that can make decisions on her care.  In my case - I have Hubby and Son listed with all my Drs so that if they have questions they can call and get answers iif I'm unable to explain my TX to them or they have other questions.

    There are many sites on line that you can go to and get info from - check them out.  There are options - your Mom has not been 'killed'.  You definately can not turn back time BUT you can educate yourself and her from now on and be pro-active.  None of us can say what is the next steps for her - other than to educate and get other medical opinions.

    Again - just me - I started my second round of Chemo 3 weeks after a rad mod mast.

    I'm older than your Mom and was 63 when DX'd.  It's been 3+ years since then and I'm still here and 'Kicking'.  When I hit a year post DX ALL my Drs said they never expecged me to make that year.

      

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  • Angel84
    Angel84 Member Posts: 25
    edited December 2012

    Hello again.

    I wasn't posting for a while since biopsy results were not given until today, so there was no point in predicting what it is or not.

    As for the results, on the bright side, it is not IBC, but IDC.

    It's a grade II cancer, ER + (8 90%) , PR 0 (guess this means negative), HER2 (2+ 10%). HER2 status will be seen after CISH results I guess.

    0/17 lymph nodes were positive, so the cancer haven't metastized there until surgery.

    Her ki67 score is 70%.

    Her treatment is Chemo first (FAC therapy), then radiation, then Nolvadex, and they also said that they are waiting CISH results for HER2 and then will maybe start with biologycal therapy, I guess it is Herceptin.

    If you have any more info about this, I would appreciate it, I'll probably now transfer to the other subforum.

    Wish you all the best.

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

    It's good her nodes are clear and has not metastacized.  She should do very well with treatment.

    Terri

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