Diagnosed as cancer free but have many symptoms of IBC

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skram
skram Member Posts: 15
edited September 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hi,

I just got my results today and the mammogram and ultrasound showed no suspicious areas.

Which is great news on the one hand, however on the other I have had an itch an inch or so under the nipple for 6 months (roughly) and over the last 2-3 months my right breast has become significantly bigger than the other. I have small areas of discolouration, zapping pains in my nipple sometimes, at other times a deep ache and most often the breast feels like it's against really itchy fabric, not quite stinging but almost.

Since the weekend I have a very slight raised area that has now developed a small indentation which does randomly sting.

I do not have the associated red rash but have come across numerous women saying they didn't get that aspect- some not at all, some not until much later.

So when I went to see this GP about the results he suggested I have thrush of the nipple

But had no explianation for anything else.

I am getting a referral to a breast specialist but I am worried... even if it's not cancer WTH is going on?


Edited to add;

My mum died 4 years ago of untreated cervical cancer because she believed ~woo~ would save her. Then 2 years ago my step mum was diagnosed with grade 2 stage 2 breast cancer (double mastectomy, lymph node removal, reconstruction) then 2 months later my younger sister was diagnosed with incurable/terminal anaplastic astrocytema (sp?) an aggressive tumour not associated with that age group and even after surgery, laser knife radiation and a year on chemo it's spreading. And then this year my 52 year old aunt had a total hysterectomy for ovarian cancer...

So I'm probably being paranoid but I'm still going to a different GP on Monday and asking for a referral to a breast specialist because regardless of cancer the swelling, skin changes etc are not normal and I need to treat the underlying issue.

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  • DATNY
    DATNY Member Posts: 358
    edited September 2018

    Do you, by any chance, have other conditions such as diabetes or autoimmune diseases. There are rare benign breast conditions associated with these, called lymphocytic mastopathy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4337124/

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  • Mandyhiero
    Mandyhiero Member Posts: 90
    edited September 2018

    Hi skram! I too, have had a lot of the same symptoms as you, had clear mammo and u/s last November, and multiple doctors tell me that nothing is wrong. Mine all started last October when I found an indention under my right nipple on the areola. I had no other symptoms at that time. I had a mammogram in November and that evening started having a prickly feeling in the top of my breast. I worried but just chocked it up to something the mammogram maybe aggravated. I even went to the doctor thinking I could have shingles. That feeling went on for months, but every doctor I saw wrote me off. Fast forward to a couple of months ago and still having the same symptoms on and off plus itchiness that’s gotten worse the last couple of days with no relief after using hydrocortisone cream. I feel like my breast looks a little different, like the skin looks a little splotchier than the other, but I can’t be sure I’m not just imagining it bc of my anxiety. I went to the breast surgeon on September 5 and she told me when I asked about MRI that insurance won’t pay for MRI and that the only way they do those is if the patient finds a lump that isn’t detected on any other testing. I was diagnosed with costochondritis due to tenderness and pain in my sternum right before my first visit with the breast surgeon so when I brought up at this visit, the fact that I was having pain and tenderness in the outer portion of my rib she said, yes, and that could be from your costochondritis. I said, the outer portion of my ribs could be costochondritis and she said she supposed it could be what’s causing it. Do keep us posted on what you find out!

    That is interesting info, DATNY bc I do have an auto-immune disease. Mine was labeled undifferentiated connective tissue disease and I’m on Plaquenil for it. It would be worth mentioning to my rheumatologist at my next visit. Thanks for sharing!
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  • skram
    skram Member Posts: 15
    edited September 2018

    Hi,

    No, I don't have anything like that (although I do have lichen sclerosis which affects the genital area causing fusing of the area + an increase in vulva cancer...I didn't even know that was a thing until I was diagnosed).

    Lichen sclerosis is thought to possibly be something to possibly be an auto-immune condition, but because it mainly effects women I guess they don't bother researching it much (trust me, if men's penis' started to fuse against their testicles there's be an official ribbon and fundraisers haha).

    Anyway, going to see another Dr for a referral to a specialist who bulk bills (I live in Australia thank god so my taxes help pay for our health system and I may only be $30 out of pocket at the end of seeing everyone).

    Ugh, the prickly feeling is just so annoying, like I said, tiny prickling as if I had a bad woollen jumper under my skin.

    Thanks for your help... who would have thought no lump, no calcification, not even a cyst would be so frustrating.

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