IBC? The unknown is scary....

Hi,

I have been lurking on this forum for the last couple of weeks. Over this time I have gained some very helpful information that will hopefully help me in the long run, and help me to pass on this informatin that virtually no one knows about.

Here is my story...a couple of months ago (shortly after Turkey Day) I discovered a gnarly rash on my left breast. Believe it or not I have no idea if it just appeared one day or if it was gradual. But late Nov was when I noticed it was big, red and occastionally itchy. I finally went to my PCP three weeks ago and he was sure it was fungal. He prescribed a cream but then asked if I had breast cancer if my family....that worried me. I made an appt with my gyn the next day. She looked at the my breast after she helped wipe my tears. At this point I had googled rash on breast and found you amazing women. She assured me it was not the peau d orange I had read about and it was not warm to the touch. The thing that stumped her was my rash had a nucleous (a clear center). She prescribed a cream with a steroid in it. After two weeks the rash was just about gone. Just some slight discoloration. She said this could take some time to go away. I was not convinced. Over those two weeks I started to notice a pain in my left armpit and noticed it was swollen, also my left arm gets numb and my fingers tingly, also my left breast burns. Feels like it is deep...I made an appt with the breast clinic on tues (3 days ago). She could not even find where the rash had been and said that was a good sign. She assured me the rash that comes along with IBC would not go away with cream. I knew by these boards that is not true. She said she could send me for a mammo but didnt feel it was necessary. She said she thinks the rash, and arm numbness are viral and they will go away on their own. My breast is not swollen or hot but I am still beyond worried to say the least. I made an appt for my mammo on wednesday. I just cant stop thinking about this. I as we all do hope it does turn out to be nothing but I am not going to take the chance. Thank you all for writing on this board. Without this, I would not be so persistant in finding the source of all of this.