IBC symptoms... Being treated for mastitis

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RHammond8789
RHammond8789 Member Posts: 6
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

I'm new to the site, so I'll just jump right in and tell you all about my situation.

I'm 25 years old with three young kids, the youngest being 18 months and still breastfeeding.

On Jan. 11 2014 I woke up with what I assumed was mastitis in my right breast. It was swollen, hot, painful, itchy, and red, and so I treated it at home as I normally have when I've had mastitis in the past.

Within the week some of the redness had gone down, but I had a discolored purpleish-red spot in the outer portion of my breast. I also noticed some mild peau d'orange on the top half of my areola extending slightly past the border. My right breast is also at this point suddenly twice the size of my left one, and no longer fits in the bras I was just fitted for this past December.

Fast forward to February 15,2014. My right breast is still swollen, the redness had faded to light pink covering most of the breast, stabbing pains come and go in my breast and armpit region, peau d'orange still slight but present, itching of breast, slightly bruised looking area still on outer portion of breast. Also, the texture of the right breast feels denser and just different from the left. I am still working on getting insurance, but on 2-15 I went to the DR to at least see about mastitis or IBC. He examined me, said he didn't think I had anything at all, but ordered for a screening mammo for my peace of mind.

On feb. 20 I ended up having a breast ultrasound due to my age, and they said since I was breastfeeding a mammo wouldn't really show anything. Dr said she could see the inflammation and edema and said that possibly mastitis, but if the antibiotics don't work that I need to see a breast surgeon for punch biopsy and and MRI.

I went back to the DR to get my prescription yesterday, and he said that hopefully they'll clear it up but to be looking for a breast surgeon I'd prefer to be referred to.

I'm trying the antibiotics in the meantime since I'm working on getting insurance, but I really just don't think this is just mastitis, as much as I'd like for it to be something as minor as that. I'm a nurse and my mother is as well and we both have looked at it and are very concerned.

I guess I'm just looking for others experiences during this time, and recommendations. I'm sort of nervous about waiting until the end of my antibiotics to go see a breast specialist.

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  • kjsimpson
    kjsimpson Member Posts: 445
    edited February 2014

    Waking up with it suddenly present is a good indication that it is mastitis instead of IBC, but that it hasn't resolved is troubling.

    I nursed both of my children (19 and 22 years ago).  Had occasional bouts with mastitis and it would resolve itself or a prescription would resolve it.  With my IBC (diagnosed 6 months ago), it presented as a rash and didn't resolve itself over a couple of weeks so I went in and had a mammogram (hadn't had one in several years).  The radiologist knew immediately something was up.  After the mammo, he did an ultrasound to get a better look at some of the specific areas of concern.  My left side lymph nodes in my breast and under my arm were very enlarged.  Give that and the rash, he did immediate (next day) biopsies to confirm.

    I really hope, for you and your family, that this is simply a tough bout of mastitis.  Good thoughts and prayers your way.

    Finally, with IBC, the quicker you are diagnosed the better.  It can move very fast.  My rash doubled in size in a week (which increased the urgency)... but, since I knew nothing about IBC at the time, I was really just going for peace of mind rule cancer out... it was a pretty big shock to get the diagnosis.

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  • RHammond8789
    RHammond8789 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2014

    well, went back to the dr today since there was worsening of symptoms after antibiotics. I saw a different dr this time, who immediately started me on heavy duty antibiotics and is scheduling for a MRI ASAP. I have to go in the next two days for rocephin shots and to be examined at the clinic. He said we could give the antibiotics a shot while waiting for MRI and biopsy, but he doesn't really think it'll help. He also told me he wasn't trying to scare me but it really doesn't look good.  

    I'm grateful that he's taking my concerns and symptoms seriously, I'm just anxious and scared and trying to stay calm while waiting to find out.

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