Please help me.

Posting pictures of symptoms is prohibited per our Community Rules -- you are encouraged to seek medical advice from your doctor in the event of any concerns.

Google gave me the confidence to insist my doctor order an ultrasound. The rest is in my history

I found the spot of orange peel skin on my breast when I got out of the shower--it was slightly pinker than the skin around it. When I showed it to my gyno a couple of days later, she had never heard of inflammatory breast cancer. The only reason I knew about it was that a friend had been diagnosed several years prior.

What probably saved my life was that my doctor insisted I knew my body and I saw something, so she sent me for a mammo and ultrasound. It was diagnosed before the dermal lymphatic invasion had extended beyond that 4" spot of peau d'orange, so it did not meet ACS criteria for IBC, but already it was node positive.

This is what is concerning about asking primary care (or even gyno!) physicians to rule out IBC--most of them have never seen a case, and frequently it's only the fact that the patient insists on more follow-up that IBC is diagnosed.

DSW1976 As Bon and others constantly explain, there's lots of misconceptions about IBC. As a guy with IBC, I've learned so much on this topic by reading these posts. BC is rare in men, but IBC is almost unheard of, so I need all the advice I can get.

You no doubt have noticed by now that there is plenty of disagreement on BCO about many topics, and that's healthy IMO. Really, though, there's no IBC club, just a lot of helpful people offering all sorts of advice, and sharing their knowledge.

Thank you for your post DSW1976. You wrote it better than I ever could.

Nancy

DSW1976, I agree with you 100%. As I have stated before, I hate to think of all the women who come to this board and are probably scared away by the responses of a few "know-it-alls" who like to put them down for being afraid and asking questions! I don't have IBC, but I don't see the need to be rude to the women who come here needing a kind word or some reassurance, that's the main reason people post here. If you can't say something kind or helpful, then why don't you just stay off the boards or keep quiet!! 

If you will notice, I don't claim to have any experience with IBC. I do have experience with being compassionate to another human being. End of conversation. I have learned it does no good to talk to you.

How is it "cruel" (your word used on me) to give information about IBC from one who is IBC?

Yes - there was 'someone' with a skin issue who had decided on IBC. She had decided on IBC - it would have been "cruel" to have not explained that the VAST majority of skin issues are NOT IBC. IF everyone who decides they are IBC because of a skin issue were actually IBC - it would not be rare but the most common type of BC.

Why not answer anyone with information? Guess you think no one should even answer when it is not what YOU think is what should be said. WRONG. We are each unique and each have something' to give. Thankfully we are each who we are and that is great!

Thank you Monis (and DSW1976) for having the nerve to state the truth. I, like you, am sick of seeing the same condescending attitude used on the poor women that come here for help (and the childish responses from Kicks when you dare comment on her attitude). The mods should be well aware of what is going on...she has been responding this way for a long time. When I first noticed her responses, I honestly thought that maybe she didn't realize how she was coming across to other people. I have since figured out that she knows exactly what she is doing. She acts as if she is the one and only "true expert" on IBC and having IBC is like being a member of some exclusive club and that only SHE can grant you permission to join! It really seems that she feels threatened by the fact that someone else could possibly think they might have the same dx she does.

Holy "Holier than thou", Batman!

This was the first post I read, on my first visit to this forum (and as you see it's my first response to your board).

I am a 10+ year survivor of IBC. I have corresponded with many other survivors in those years, and spent a fair amount of time answering questions from women such as MeganRenee. I can't believe how callous the responses above are. "Read the rules". "Listen to your doctors". "Don't trust Dr. Google". And then the only helpful post is a miles-long cut & paste of an entire interview from six years ago. Helpful information, but where's the human touch?

Wow.

But she took the picture off pretty immediately, when you first reminded her of that. IBC, IDC, ILC,- they are ALL a threat to our health, and frightening. I second what dragon chick wrote. And I have found so called DR google to be an excellent resource. Actually, it's how I found BCO in the first place. And for someone like me who thirsts for knowledge, I have found the "search" function to be one of the very best things, and also one of my favorite words.

gentle

Meganrenee. pus and blood, along with an "incredibly painful" spot, says INFECTION. It could be an abscess, or some other kind of bacterial thingy. I would bet my next paycheck that it's not IBC.

And you have no need to apologize. I'm so glad you came here to us to ask your question. I turned to BCO in the beginning of my breast cancer fandango and found the people here to be sincerely helpful and willing to share their own journey's details.