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kmom80
kmom80 Member Posts: 26
edited January 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

I am so stressed out my average fitbit heart rate is 116. I am 35, and a single mom. I left an abusive relationship in June and this is all I need. I started working out and developed pustules underneath both breasts, the left breast had an oval red patch on it. It's 21 days later, the pustules are gone and the single patch remains. Its not in the crease but on lower hakf of breast. I initially went to a NP who said tinea, use lotrimin. I used the otc cream for one week then got an ultrasound and mammogram which were normal. But the rash persisted. Hasn't spread and has maybe darkened up a bit. I started using blue star ointment and showering with Nizoral. Yesterday, I started taking oral flucanazole. And I still don't see much improvement. My mom had BC at 45. So I was referred to a breast cancer high risk surgeon and am getting a punch biopsy monday. I'm confused wasn't my ultrasound and mammo normal? The radiologist said I have a better chance of being struck by a meteor than having ibc. But then again the rash isn't going away after 3 weeks of treating it. I feel so horrible my head is spinning and I can't focus at all. Two doctors have said "looks like fungus" yet I have to see a high risk surgeon?! I know you can't diagnose but I have no orange peel, no swelling, no nodes swollen, no heat, no nipple inversion. I'm freaking out.

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  • Mamiya
    Mamiya Member Posts: 432
    edited January 2016

    kmom80,

    Don't freak out. I have had rashes that took more than a month to clear up, especially in winter with dry skin etc.

    IBC usually comes on strong, not with "just" a small rash. Likely after three weeks you would have other things happening, your breast would feel heavy, you might have pain, you might have itching or burning, you might have nipple inversion, swelling, weird skin changes. If you have none of those I am going to bet you do not have IBC. It is rare and there are so many reasons for rashes that have nothing to do with cancer.

    Having said that, I am glad you are going to a specialist and getting a punch biopsy. It is better than guessing. This way you will know what t is and will be able to treat it appropriately.

    Please do update here, even if (when ;) it turns out to be "just a rash" and good luck to you, don't freak out!

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  • mettasun
    mettasun Member Posts: 18
    edited January 2016

    kmom80, what you see might be fear of malpractice: often, if one so much as raises a possible concern then the specialists, in a mostly cya mode, do an extensive workup--it's more business and less risk for them. If you have a family doctor thay you trust perhaps s/he can help you assess need for this testing and/or refer you to another specialist for a 2nd opinion, assess whether you might profit from genetic testing, and perhaps recommend some anxiety reduction solutions such as yoga, relaxation tapes, etc. Anyhow you are doing the right thing by being alert and proactive. I sure hope it all resolves itself uneventfully.

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  • kmom80
    kmom80 Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2016

    Thank you. I do have pain (in both breasts, have had this for years, cyclical) and itching - started out in both breasts now just the left. Complicating the matter is I had a breast reduction several years ago and this patch is right over my keloid scar. I typically don't feel anything over my scars so the itching I feel is in an area where the skin is clear. I do agree with you and thank you for pointing out that IBC seems to be something that progresses super quickly so I should have had some worsening over the past 3 weeks.

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  • kmom80
    kmom80 Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2016

    Thank you for your reply I appreciate your time. I agree it might be a case of CYA. It just all happened so strangely. At first I received the "all clear" from the radiologist who herself did the ultrasound. Then I was given a card for a high risk NP for genetic testing. That is super expensive so I put it off. A week later (yesterday) I receive a call from a nurse asking why I haven't scheduled a follow up with the high risk NP. I said it was bc I couldn't afford genetic testing at this time. The nurse transferred me to the radiologist who said I was supposed to follow up for the rash?! I said NOBODY told me that. Then when I called the high risk clinic, they said that NPs don't even see breast rashes only breast surgeons do and that they don't even provide genetic testing! I have little confidence in these providers they seem understaffed and not very well organized or informed. My radiologist looked younger than me how many cases of IBC could she have seen? I asked her, she said none. :( I also asked one of the doctor's I saw. She saw she had seen a few cases of Paget's and said I definitely didn't have Paget's. It's like nobody knows how to screen for and confidently rule out IBC. Sad.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited January 2016

    After the punch biopsy comes back, an appt with a Dermatologist would probably be in order for your skin issues.

    'Redness/rash' is quite common even on the breast, need the correct meds to heal and can take quite a while to completely resolve. On the other hand, IBC is rare - only between 1% - 5% of all DIAGNOSED types of BC (DCIS/IDC/ILC/IBC). It is aggressive and rapid in presentation - literally overnight or within days. Also IBC does NOT always present with 'redness/rash' (mine never did).

    I'm 'confused' - why wouldn't you want a biopsy when you think you are IBC because of a 'redness/rash'? It takes a biopsy to actually DX any type of BC. And why wouldn't you do a follow up for the skin issue IF it didn't resolve?

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    I had assumed that with large breasts, I was stuck with a rash in the creases. My gyne gave me a combination steroid/antifungal cream. Took a month, but the rashes went away. You probably got the pustules from sweat and yeast stagnating in the crease. You might want to keep the area scrupulously clean, use whatever’s been prescribed, and perhaps keep some soft clean cloth between your bra’s band and the crease (or if you don’t wear a bra, tucked into the crease).

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  • kmom80
    kmom80 Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2016

    well it's funny you say that because when I initially went for my appointment for ultrasound mammo and the first time I saw my NP, both these appointments were in the same week everyone said I was overreacting and that I didn't need a punch biopsy. So my results came back normal for mammo/ultrasound I got my head wrapped around trusting the doctors opinions by this point I had seen the NP, MD and radiologist. As far as following up for the skin issue, I initially made appointment with dermatology but 3 month wait I don't have great insurance. So I went to family practice twice in 1.5 weeks, radiology that same week, then the second week my symptoms persisted I made a call to get an oral antifungal. So I have been extremely aggressive in trying to figure this out. I just don't understand why 3 people would tell me my diagnostics and presentation ruled out ibc 99.9% and now all of a sudden I'm getting a punch tonrrow.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited January 2016

    Because the first step (antifungals) hasn't cleared it completely. Doesn't mean that is not what it is. It just might need a different medicine

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