What benign conditions could mimic IBC symptoms?

Starbuckc · May 2018

A few weeks ago, I had a red area pop up on my right breast close to the cleavage area. It was not raised (almost looked like an irritation that was a couple of layers of skin down). I shrugged it off as just one of those weird things. About 5 days later, I woke up to a bright red zigzag line of broken capillaries that started at the red area and traveled along the mid-to-top breast and ended on the outer breast with a large circular purple area. The purple area did not resemble a bruise, more like a convoluted area of more broken capillaries mixed with cold skin, if that makes sense. My internist saw me the next day and was quite perplexed as she had not seen anything like it before. She put me on a 7-day course of Bactrim just in case it was an odd case of cellulitis. The day after I finished the Bactrim the middle zigzag line faded, so I was like, "see, I knew there was no reason to worry!" I've been waiting for the original area and the outside purple area to fade but they have not. I started having sharp stabbing like pains behind my nipple a few days ago, so I made an appointment with a gynecologist (will go in June 5th) because it's been several years since my last PAP and I figured she could take a peek at my breast while I'm there. The reason I'm posting today is because I woke up this morning to find my breast has enlarged some and has more weird markings. It is not swollen hard or perky like I've seen other people say in their description of IBC. It does not look like orange peel either, but instead from the red area to the nipple are weird long wrinkles in the skin. Also a few new vertical purple stretch marks directly about the nipple. And lastly, the middle zig zag line appears to be returning. I can see the beginning of it in a faint pink color. There is quite a difference in the appearance of each breast. The other breast is just soft skin with a few old white/silver stretch marks from pregnancy. I know that this can't be diagnosed in an online forum, but my question is what other conditions could cause some of these symptoms? should I be taking this more seriously and try to get an appointment sooner than June 5th, or do you think the 12-day wait is fine? Thank you for anyone who reads this massive explanation and for any advice anyone has.

MelissaDallas · May 2018

Skin issues are generally exactly that: skin issues. I'd see a dermatologist

mustlovepoodles · May 2018

I think a 12 day wait is fine. This really does not sound like IBC. Our wonky breasts can have all kinds of benign lumps, bumps, rashes, and dimples. Definitely keep your GYN appt, so you can catch up on your PAP, but you may be able to get in to see a dermatologist sooner.

moondreaming · May 2018

Hi starbuckc! I disagree that this sounds like a dermatology issue. You have said there was red streaking, bruised appearances, broken capillaries, unilateral breast enlargement... sounds more like a trauma to the breast (that maybe you don't remember the injury?) or an infectious issue, hence why it got a bit better with antibiotic treatment. Could it be IBC? Other breast cancer? I am not a doctor, and I have not been diagnosed with cancer, so I don't have a lot to offer except to say people can reassure you or say your symptoms don't suggest it, but the truth is no one here would know that for sure. Everyone is different; some have had cancer with NO symptoms, others with bizarre symptoms. However, I would say that you are right to pursue an answer. You know your body best, and something is telling you that things are "off." Listen to your gut and please don't put yourself last. Self-care is NOT self-ish! If I was in your situation I would push until I was satisfied that appropriate treatment was given. I'm sorry you are going through this, it is a nightmare for sure. I hope you get to the bottom of all of this and that it is indeed a B9 issue. Please keep us posted, as you will be in my thoughts. Hugs to you!

Starbuckc · May 2018

Thank you, ladies, for the suggestions. I will call Tuesday and make an appointment with a derm. I have some weird scaly skin on the sides of calves ive been putting off dealing with anyway. My husband calls it my dragonskin. I've been making him call me Khaleesi. I have definitely been confused by this whole thing. The red streaking confused my doctor as well because it wasn't a "classic" showing of infection. Not following a vein, no heat, and upon inspection it was just a path of the broken capillaries and petichial (sp?) marks. But I am going to actually pay attention to myself on this one. Thanks agai

Starbuckc · June 2018

Update for anyone that reads this that has similar symptoms:

Gyn said it could be anything from some sort of weird bug bite to trauma to the breast, but unconcerned about it Referred to breast surgeon to be looked at to have ultrasound and told me to lay off the caffeine.

djmammo · June 2018

Starbuckc

Any history of a clotting disorder or any other hematologic or vascular abnormalities in yourself or relatives? Is this still involving only one breast?

Did you have any breast imaging? If so did they comment on the lymph nodes? If you do or did have imaging can you post the report.

For the length of time you have been having symptoms, IBC would likely have declared itself by this time with the more classic physical findings.

Starbuckc · June 2018

Nothing that I really know about. I had an uncle who had a stroke, but he was almost 60, and my dad had to have a triple bypass at 49, but I'm very ignorant of what all that entails. No imaging done. She said to make an appointment next door for the breast surgeon to have an ultrasound, so it sound s like they will do that in-house. It is just 1 breast which now no longer fits in my normal bras. She seemed to be leaning towards cysts and said I should quit my morning coffee. And to take Ibuprofen for pain. But her confidence that's nothing nefarious is going on made me feel better, so I may give it some more time and maybe it will improve on its own and I won't need to see the BS. If I do, I'll be sure to post results

Starbuckc · June 2018

also, I have tiny hard lumps all over the chest wall after her "firm" exam, so I probably just have fragile breasts lo

Starbuckc · June 2018

just returned home from breast surgeon appt. he did a quick ultrasound of the 1 o'clock area (site of original redness). A month and a half from the day It appeared, and the redness is mostly covered by a bruise at this point. Still have "soft swelling" and bottom inner area has a flat spot. Lost its curve. He said clear inflammation seen but not worried and ordered a bilateral diagnostic mammogram. I asked what could cause this 1.5 month inflammation and painand he said some things are just a mystery. Oddly, my gyno called to tell me I had an ASCUS Pap smear and after running further tests including HPV and all negative she said it could be inflammation or just a mystery. Too much mystery!

Starbuckc · June 2018

and my journey continues. Mammogram led to ultrasound. Radiologist came in to tell me there was an irregular shaped solid mass in a duct and I will need biopsy. I tried to get a report there, but they said I could get from BS tomorrow as they will be calling me, along with a nurse navigator who was out today. Left in a daze

Starbuckc · June 2018

Nurse navigator called. Only new info I have is Birads 4 and mass is 1.5x.5 cm. I see that a very high percentage of birads 4 is benign so trying to stay positive despite the facts that palms will not stop sweating.

mustlovepoodles · June 2018

BIRADs4 is about 80% benign, so chances are still good that this is not breast cancer. Fingers crossed for ya!

Starbuckc · June 2018

Thanks My head knows that statistics are with me, but I can't get rid of the sick feeling in my stomach. I have felt foolish lurking around on this site for almost 2 months, but now I'm thankful I have so I now know some terminology and questions to ask. Honestly, without these boards, I wouldn't even know about many of the benign conditions that can afflict the breast. If you Google anything "breast" it comes up cancer. You need the actual names of benign conditions to find real information. I just have to start my research over to focus on duct masses. I was so sure it would be fat necrosis or maybe even abscess or cyst in area of redness and bruisig

Starbuckc · June 2018

just got my report. 4a! I feel so much better! I don't totally understand what all this means, but I understand 4a enough to know this shouldsoon be over. Can't wait toget this finished. I wonder if the surgeon will just take it out so maybe all of my issues will subside.

BREAST DENSITY: There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density.
FINDINGS:

There is a background pattern of several oval asymmetries and round asymmetries bilaterally. These likely represent cysts, lymph nodes, and/or fibroadenomas. This nodular parenchymal pattern is a typically benign pattern given the multiplicity and bilaterality.

However there is a dominant mass in the right breast, in the anterior 12 o'clock position approximately 1.5 cm from the nipple.
This corresponds to a region where the patient reports focal tenderness. Magnification views demonstrate mildly of focal asymmetry approximately 1.4 cm diameter as demonstrated on magnification CC and ML views.

Right breast ultrasound: Targeted ultrasound was performed over the second anterior 12 o'clock position of the right breast. 1 cm from the nipple patient has a heterogeneous hypoechoic lobulated mass 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 cm in size. The long axis is parallel
to the skin surface. No internal blood flow is detected by Doppler imaging. This corresponds in size and position to the mammographic finding. The etiology of this mass is uncertain. Ultrasound-guided biopsy is recommended.

The mammogram was also reviewed by R2 image Checker computer aided detection (CAD).

ASSESSMENT: BI-RADS 4: Suspicious; BI-RADS 4A: Low Suspicion for Malignancy

MANAGEMENT:Biopsy is recommended.

Ultrasound-guided right breast biopsy for lobulated mass anterior 12 o'clock position near the subareolar region, near the patient reports tenderness.

mustlovepoodles · June 2018

Well, thats pretty good news. BIRads 4a is about 90% benign, so ar least youre going in the right direction.

Starbuckc · June 2018

And they got me scheduled for Tuesday, so a fairly short wait

Starbuckc · July 2018

update for ppl who have similar symptoms: pathology is benign! Fibroadenoma :

mustlovepoodles · July 2018

Hooray! That's the best kind of news right before a holiday. Well done!

Starbuckc · July 2018

yes! The even better news: after the biopsy, almost all of my pain subsided. I was expecting more pain, but nope. He said he could do surgery to get it out, but I don't see any need for that unless the pain returns. So he'll just have me do 6-month imagings for awhile. We still don't know why I had the redness (still there) and inflammation in the upper area, but I feel like due dilligence has been taken. I'll leave my thread up for future scared women Googling similar symp

Recap · July 2018

Congrats-stay vigilant and on time with future screenings. Your report says targeted ultrasound-did the tech really only 'wand' one spot?

I was reminded of the 'princess and the pea' fairy tale as to whether the author might have based it on someone in real (ancient) life that might have had a mass causing pain.

My 'zapping' pain (breast) was gone after biopsy also (12 samples.) I still have the 'zapping' pain in the upper leg which I am still on the fence about getting evaluated.

clucase · July 2018

Hi, I'm new here and have been inspired reading everyone's stories. This past Monday I noticed a soft skin swelling when I removed my bra at the end of the day, it was just above the bra line. I wasn't sure what to think, but had been outside watching fireworks so assumed maybe I got bit by a mosquito. I went to bed, and when I got up the next morning, the swelling was down, but there still appeared to be an area about the size of a half dollar that still had some soft swelling. There isn't a true "dimpling" like peau d' orange of that area because my skin is still soft and flesh colored like the rest of my breast, but the hair follicles appear enlarged a bit in this focal area. I have no other symptoms, but I was due for a mammogram anyway, so I called the breast specialist facility yesterday that I go to for my mammograms, told them my concern, and they got me in right away for my mammogram and a left breast ultrasound. I talked to the diagnostic radiologist that has specialized in breasts for over 20 years and has seen it all. My 3 D mammogram was normal, so she did the ultrasound. She could visually see the slightly raised skin swelling so really focused on that area when doing my ultrasound. She scanned for over 10 minutes, checked blood flow in my breast and in the raised area and she said that there was nothing at all that she could find remotely concerning except for the small area of soft swelling (which normally for IBC is thickened, red, inflamed). I have no other really classic symptoms, but I'm still concerned. What else would it be? I asked about a biopsy of the area, and she felt it was unwarranted at this time. She recommended I follow up with my gyne or PCP and after discussing it with him, if we both felt a biopsy should be done, she has no problem doing it. She said to watch the area and if there are any changes at all or if the area gets larger she would also do the biopsy.

I made an appointment to see my gynecologist for next Wednesday to discuss with him. Maybe I shouldn't be concerned, but I just am not sure what else it could be, soooo I worry.

Thanks for listening.

What benign conditions could mimic IBC symptoms?

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