is it ibc or breastfeeding problem?

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despinagr
despinagr Member Posts: 9
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Hi, I am Despina, 39yo and mother of 2 lovely children, 5 yo and 5 months! I gave birth to my baby on november 7th and from the 2nd day my nipples became sore. 10 days later, my left breast became painful, it was not red, hard or swollen. Just painfull, sensitive, burning sansation especially in the nipple areola complex. I called my gyn and he put me in antibiotics but no inprovement. After a month I visited a breast surgeon that he told me that my problem was because of lactation. In january I had ultrasound, mammografy and mri, all clear. (Mammografy showed a density? but mri  was clear). I had one more round of antibiotics without improvement and  3 more opinions and all they told me that the redness in nipple areola complex it is due to lactation and my baby, s biting. In february I discontinued breastfeeding from that particular breast but no improvement. I underwent in skin biopsy from areola and it showed skin with fibrosis and mild chronic lymphohistiocytic iflammator infiltrate.Till today my nipple is slightly swollen and the nipple areola complex red, very sensitive with burning sensation. I have spoken about it with many lactacion consultants but theynever heard about something like that. Please, wha

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t do you think? I am afraid that is ibc and the biopsy was done in a wrong place. Forgive my english! I try for 2nd time to post but I don, t know what wrong I do! I ll try to post a photo too. Thank you very much.Please help me, iam terrified

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2014

    Is the area involved increasing?  A Dermotologist mighf be a good idea.

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  • despinagr
    despinagr Member Posts: 9
    edited November 2016

     Yes. It increased but only inside aerola.what does it mean? I went to a hospital specialized in dermatology but the doctor who saw me she told me that she doesn, t know what happens! She haven, t seen it before and she supposes that is because of lactation

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  • jessozzie
    jessozzie Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2014

    Hi Despina,I wont be too worried as IBC has different features and mainly warm to touch and orange in  color,I hope you dont mind me asking, but are you of Greek origin, i noticed your name,,i am Greek from Australia, i am a retired DA...

    Love Jess

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  • despinagr
    despinagr Member Posts: 9
    edited November 2016

    hi Jess! Yes! Iam Greek!  Orange in colour...?  

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  • jessozzie
    jessozzie Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2014

    Hi Despina,IBC has peau de orange and swelling, i saw your breast and it does not look like that,,min fovase...

    jess

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2014

    'peau d'orange' is a French term that refers to skin taking on the texture of an orange peel - not the color oramge.  It has to do with issues with the lymphatic system.  Redness is often present though.

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  • jessozzie
    jessozzie Member Posts: 117
    edited April 2014

    Hi Kicks, after my mastectomy and node removal i have a bit of skin hanging under my arm...is that just dead skin after they stitched it up?? have u had that too??

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2014

    jessozzie - I (nor anyone else here) can tell you what is going on with you skin - you need to address that with your DR(s).  

    IF the skin is 'healty' (pink/normal, not black/necrotic), it is healthy skin - not "dead"   It is not unusual, when no immediate recon  we often wind up with what is referred to as 'dog ears'.   I hope I don't offend you by saying this - we are both 'older' (I'm only 67 BUT ) - with time our skin is not as resilient as it once was - so it sags.  (So wish my upper arms were what they were years ago!)   Skin that was once 'supported' to the breast no longer has the weight to be 'pulled down' - so it just there 'hanging'.  Talk with your surgeon and if it's really bothering you (or very large) ask for a referral to a plastic surgeon to see what your options will be.

    I do have a VERY SMALL DE but not worth me worring about even when I wear tanktops.  I am on the 'smaller side' and from what I've read/heard that does possibly come into play.  I also deal with LE - so to me - not worth doing anything surgically to that arm that isn't medically necessary.

    Have you seen a CERTIFIED LymphEdema Therapist yet?  If you haven't - even if no symptoms yet - you should!   It gets a base line established and educate you about it.

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