MRI for diagnosing IBC

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alicki
alicki Member Posts: 661
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Hello, 

I would like to know how many out there have used MRI to diagnose IBC.

I have some swelling and pain (no peau d'orange; confirmed by two different breast oncologist surgeons) under the left breast quadrant inferior under areala. I have always had cappillaries on breast so it's hard for me to tell what'd red from non red.

I had an MRI at my insistence a week ago and nothing showed up at all.

But I still have pain in my breast. Not sure how to go about next step? Biopsy, but what is there to biopsy if nothing shows up on MRI? (MRI radiologist had seen IBC before). Or should I relax and take the MRI for an answer.

Thanks,

Alicki

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  • annab22100
    annab22100 Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2013

    How old are you? I also have constant pain in my left breast, plus some redness that comes and goes. What is more, sometimes the first biopsy doesn't show anything. Please keep me informed. hugs.

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  • alicki
    alicki Member Posts: 661
    edited August 2013

    I'm 40 but not sure age has anything to do with it.

    It's hell here to try to get a biopsy unless they find something on the scans. 

    I think my left breast is getting slightly bigger so I'm going to go back next week and insist that they do a punch biopsy in several areas, but don't know if I can get that done. 

    If biopsies don't show anything, do we have to wait until it's full blown and stage IV before they react? 

    This is frustrating....

    Best

    Alicki

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  • annab22100
    annab22100 Member Posts: 24
    edited August 2013

    Yes, on one hand they don't want to perform biopsy waiting for .. don't know what. Then , even if they decide, the biopsy may show at first nothing :/ This is saddening, I know what you feel dear .

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  • Nel138281
    Nel138281 Member Posts: 2,124
    edited August 2013

    I had a punch biopsy and a breast MRI.  The biopsy gave them the answers that we were looking for.   Keep advaocating for yourself, not easy but necessary

    Be well

    Nel

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  • alicki
    alicki Member Posts: 661
    edited August 2013

    Hello, 

    Ok. Oh my goodness. In this country, if nothing shows up on scans, it's impossible to get a biopsy, let alone a punch biopsy. 

    I'm not happy about crossing the pond to get one done but if that is what it is going to take, Nel, then I will. 

    Could you send me a private message with details of the breast center/clinic/doctor that treated you. 

    Thanks a million,

    Alicki

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  • alicki
    alicki Member Posts: 661
    edited August 2013

    Right, looks like I will be going to the UK to get a punch biopsy done. Have found  someone there who can do it I can't believe that they won't do it in Switzerland. 

    Alicki

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  • DragonladyTina
    DragonladyTina Member Posts: 371
    edited August 2013

    Best of luck to you Alicki, hope you get the punch done and the results are negative

    Tina

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  • alicki
    alicki Member Posts: 661
    edited August 2013

    Dear Tina, 

    THanks. Managed to get in for 20th August in the UK. I will need to go to the UK. last thing I heard today from my OB/GYN, he doesn't want to do it because it might create an infection. This is surreal! It surprises me because he's usually excellent. He recommended seeing a specialist, which I already have done, three of them, of them refusing to do the biopsy!! the cases of IBC they have seen here are full blown so not red, then it isn't IBC and they won't do the tests, frustrating!

    Cheers for the support

    Alicki

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