My right boob wants to know

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AliBeeBU
AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
edited October 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

long story? About a month and a half ago I woke up with a reddish pink splotch on my right breast. It was a little warm and weird but i'm Really not an alarmist kinda person so I figured I was bit by a bug or something. It would itch if I scratched it but otherwise didn't bother me so I let it be thinking it would probably go away. So 3 weeks go by and no change and I start to think to myself maybe I should have this checked out but it's most likely dermatitis (At this time this is the only symptoms I have going on). I start taking better care and using OTC ointments to help it go away. Flash forward to about 5 days ago. No change in the area except it's faded in color a bit. My whole breast starts itching, around the blotch and especially the tissue around my nipple. 3 days ago: I start getting this odd sensation of let down. Like pregnant breasts. By now i', thinking hmm...google (ugh google) says if you see any change in your breasts that lasts for over a month you should see a doctor. So I make an appointment to see a dermatologist who tells me that I should try a prescription topical cream for 2 weeks and if there's no change then she would do a biopsy. Good deal. We arrive at this morning where I wake myself up pawing at my itchy breast like a badger. The blotch is now welted in appearance. I'm constantly itchy and I feel dull pain. This breast has also become very sensitive. A lot of things that coincide with IBC but it could be something far less sinister. I don't know. This is the first time righty has gone off the deep end. (Not to say that all breast cancer isn't sinister. I mean maybe it's just a bunch of coincidences and in the end it's nothing)


In the mean time my left boob is just chillin. Having a normal month


So I'm 36 and I made an appointment to see a breast specialist which I will see Friday. ... It's tuesday btw. I don't know if i'm Overreacting or not but seemed like the right call just in case

Thing is that most of the entries i've read about people's stories is that these kind of changes usually happen super fast. Like overnight. I also don't have any changes in my nipple as far as inversion. I don't know if I have pitting. I have stretch marks so who knows. But the blotch does have a different texture (which is why I thought it might be dermatitis).

I have since looked to the internet to try and find a reasonable explaination for these strange occurrences to my favorite boob (we all have a favorite). It has not been reassuring. Which is how I ended up here. Feeling a little confused as to how scared I should or shouldn't be feeling. I have a whole week to wait.

Anyone experience this? Could it all be a serious of harmless coincidences? Anyone have an experience like mine? I feel a bit alone.

Thanks

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    bump

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    honestly I can’t talk to anyone in my life about this. My husband knows I’m going to a doctor but he’s suffering from tension headaches that have his blood pressure spiking through the roof already. He’s trying to keep cool. I need him to be cool. Can’t talk to my mom. She never reacts well. She’ll either go nuts or drive me nuts. And I don’t really have local friends because we just moved.

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited October 2018

    Ali, I’m sorry I can’t offer anything in the way of a similar experience. I do know that IBC very quickly presents itself, sometimes in the matter of hours. What you’re describing sounds like a skin issue so going to the dermatologist was spot on. As was making an appointment with the specialist. Any changes need to be checked out, especially if they are concerning or continuous. Should you be concerned? Not specifically that it’s cancer but simply to get to the bottom of your symptoms...never put the cart before the horse. Age is on your side where the stats are concerned, take comfort in that. Besides your age, IBC is rare.

    If you have a trusted friend back home you might consider calling and confiding tofor support. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone. Overreacting or not, your feelings are valid and need supported. Post here, we listen and know exactly where you’re coming from.

    Wishing all goes well on Friday, keep us posted please! Hugs!

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  • PurpleCat
    PurpleCat Member Posts: 358
    edited October 2018

    I'm sorry you're going through this! No advice to share, except that Dr. Google is NOT your friend right now, and you're doing the right thing by making an appointment with the doctor. It seems like a good sign that the rash faded a bit. Hang in there; worrying about this stuff is so horrid.

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    thanks guys. I am trying to live in a blissful state of 'you just be having crazy brain!' Which is why I am continuing to use the prescription topical treatment my dermatologist gave me, even tho I have yet to see an improvement.

    My blotchy mark swelled up this morning and got worse later in the day. Looks like I have 3 bite marks all in that area. When I went to put the cream on the area tonight I did notice pitting (like tiny pin holes) in the areas that appeared today. I am going to stay calm and assume that happens to inflamed skin in all cases. I will not go to the google.

    I'm basically trying to keep myself in a cool state of either talking myself down because it's nothing, or just flat out denial till I can see an expert Friday.

    Thanks for listening and keeping me off a ledge. Lol.

    I’m personally rooting for cellulitis. And that the rest of what i’m Experiencing is all in my head...

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    just another question. If I have my appointment tomorrow morning about how long on average is the wait for results?

    Today is a little rough. Anxious about the doctor but I know I need to go. The rash isn’t responding to the topical cream I was prescribed by my dermatologist. I’m having pain that seems to come and go in my right arm. Runs around my shoulder, under my arm and down to my elbow. I do t know if anything is swollen. I’m a big gurl. Went to the dentist and she expressed concerns about the red and inflamed appearance of my tonsils and gums (don’t know if that’s related. It’s just one more thing)

    And my in laws are in town.

    I feel like going to bed early.

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  • hapa
    hapa Member Posts: 920
    edited October 2018

    Ali - are you going to have a biopsy tomorrow? Or is this just a consult for the breast specialist to order some tests? I was able to get my biopsy results on the same day, but only because the radiologist was so certain it was breast cancer and he knew the pathologist at the lab he sent my samples to. Usually the wait for a biopsy report is 1-5 business days, with the low end being an in-house pathology lab and the high end if they send it out somewhere. That's for the US, apparently in Canada you wait forever and a day. My wait between seeing a doctor and getting a mammo/US was a couple days, then it took about a week after that to get in for the biopsy. All in all, it was about two weeks for me between making the doctors appointment with my PCP and getting a diagnosis. Then another two weeks to get in to see an oncologist, was started on treatment a week after that.

    Re: the pain in your right arm, if you feel around in your arm pit, do you feel any swollen lymph nodes?

    I'm sorry about all the lousy things going on in your life. My DH is a high anxiety type and I rarely share things with him. This is where I usually come if I want comfort.

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  • Kassy54
    Kassy54 Member Posts: 60
    edited October 2018

    AliBeeBU,

    Waiting is SO hard, and not being able to share the worry because those who love you will freak out is stressful. The ladies here are very gracious about including those of us “just worrying” and you will find support here.

    Hapa is right that the odds are way in your favor, and there are tons of weird things that can happen with breasts that are benign. But good for you for getting it looked into. I hope you get your results soon.

    I finally had a biopsy this Tues to check for a recurrence after pushing for it all summer, and I won't get results until I go to get my stitches out this coming Tuesday—so 7 days from procedure to results.Maybe my BS just doesn’t like giving results over the phone.


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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited October 2018

    AliBeeBU

    True IBC is as close to an emergency as we get in breast ailments.

    If you are going to a breast specialist and this looks to them like IBC believe me they will tell you and start to ball rolling toward a prompt diagnosis and treatment.

    If your skin patch is stable since your first post odds are its not IBC. The skin would be developeing that orange peel appearance, feel like leather and the breast would eventually become warm and less mobile.

    Let us know what the doc says.

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    yeah my husband has enough stress to deal with. I can’t keep asking him too much. He is already anxious about this. Wants me to go to the appointment probably more than I do. Said it’ll give him peace of mind.

    I honestly haven’t checked to see if they’re swollen. I have so much fat around my torso I can’t see anything. I’ll orobably check them when I get home. If I can even find them.

    I think it’s a consult to see what tests to run. I hope the wait for all of this isn’t forever. I didn’t even think that there would be a wait after seeing the doctor before even getting tests done. Sheesh. I’m having my consult in a hospital so maybe if I’m lucky I can get the tests done same day?? Here’s hoping.

    Also forgot to add. My aereola is now larger and darker than my other one. It feels like (I know this sounds weird) it’s sticking to my clothing? Maybe it’s just being sensitive??

    Not trying to complain. Just feels good listing this stuff out. Like just telling someone what’s happening relieves so much stress.

    Anyone ever notice a change in their blood pressure pre diagnosis. Like it getting lower??

    Sorry. Brain is just running

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    ever since it welled up it’s been getting thick in one spot and is getting a little of that orange peel look. Like my pores are magnified. I keep hoping that I’ll wake up tomorrow and it will have responded to the topical cream. But so far no luck.

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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    I honestly really hope I walk in tomorrow and they call me an idiot and send me home because it’s not cancer. Of any kind. I really really really don’t want to spend the next couple years in and out of treatments. I really don’t want to lose my breast. And I have SO much respect for all the strength that all of you that have to go through this have. I’ve read stories of hope and and journeys of all kinds. And god bless you all. You’re SO BRAVE

    I really hope it isn’t cancer. On the other hand I do know something is happening to my breast. And it isn’t normal.

    I just really hope it isnt cancer.


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  • AliBeeBU
    AliBeeBU Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    I want to say a quick thank you for everyone responding to me. It actually has been keeping me calm.

    I mean everything everyone says makes sense. If it was IBC I feel like I would have more severe symptoms and it would be happening faster. Taking comfort in that.

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  • hapa
    hapa Member Posts: 920
    edited October 2018

    Something weird is definitely going on with your boob. I really hope its not cancer too.

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