Just scared.

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Mjm_iesu
Mjm_iesu Member Posts: 12
edited November 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

hi... I don’t remember when, but in the last 1.5-3 months I found a small (about size of two quarters) pink patch in the side of my breast. It had a a little spot on it that made it look like it could be a big bite or an under the skin pimple so I tried squeezing it and nothing happened.

I checked on it often and tired squeezing and wasn’t worried at all. It was not/is not itchy, hot, rough in texture, or painful.

In that time I was on two rounds of two types of antibiotics for something else ... no changes to that pink patch.

I am currently nursing my 19 month old, but trying to wean so some days I don’t nurse at all or very rarely. Some day I notice pain in both breasts, sometimes there’s some burning sensation -sometimes both, but usually on the side I press on the most (sleeping, Resting my arm when using my phone etc) which is the side of the pink spot. I have also had deep pain in both my breasts where it feels like a needle Ian behind my nipple

No unusual pain under arm pits.The spot isn't painful. But my breasts as whole alternate where painful. Usually more on the breast where the pink spot is

I guess I am just so panicked because I have had this spot for what feels like a while now 1.5 months or more- and it's not going away. Not getting worse or swelling or growing or changing colours, but not going away. And I've done antibiotics with no change and it looks like a bug bite which everything says is an indicator


(I saw an after hours doctor yesterday and he thought non accuse mastitis ... but said to see my regular doctor I’m 2-3 weeks — in insisted on asap so seeing him in 2 days)

I have a 1 yr old and 3 year old and am terrified of it being inflammatory breast cancer.

Comments

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2018

    Inflammatory breast cancer is rapidly progressing, in days, if not HOURS. It is highly unlikely to be IBC.

  • Mjm_iesu
    Mjm_iesu Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    thanks. I guess I just haven’t been able to find anything else that would make sense and because I have read so many stories of even doctors missing it (and antibiotics didn’t take the pink patch go away for me) I am ver worried.

  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited October 2018

    Most skin issues are just that-skin issues.

  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited October 2018

    If the spot is really bothering you, perhaps a dermatologist should take a look. The skin of our breasts is very sensitive. Melissa is correct, IBC progresses rapidly. If it were IBC that patch would have been getting much bigger very quickly

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

    Mjm_iesu

    This list from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/unders...

    Click on the link for more complete information.

    Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) causes a number of signs and symptoms, most of which develop quickly (within 3-6 months), including:

    • Thickening (edema/swelling) of the skin of the breast
    • Redness involving more than one-third of the breast
    • Pitting or thickening of the skin of the breast so that it may look and feel like an orange peel
    • A retracted or inverted nipple
    • One breast looking larger than the other because of swelling
    • One breast feeling warmer and heavier than the other
    • A breast that may also be tender, painful or itchy
  • Mjm_iesu
    Mjm_iesu Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    I don't have:

    -thickening of the skin

    -redness involving more than 1/3 (in more like pink with a small whitish raised area and only about 1/16th of my breast)

    -orange peel looking skin

    -issues with either nipple

    -one breast looking larger than the other (although I recently went up a size from first starting nursing to a year and half in)


    ****

    -both breasts feel heavy with a warm sensation (not to the touch) at times,... but more so the one with the patch

    -there is pain in both breasts at time/ more often the one with the patch.

  • Mjm_iesu
    Mjm_iesu Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    update...

    Saw my regular family doctor today...

    I explained everything about my symptoms and worries to the doctor and he looked at the patch. He seemed like he knew very little about that type of breast cancer, but also seemed very certain that it's just a skin infection that I've irritated. He said it actually looks very minor and I don't have enough other symptoms for things to be suspicious.

    He said a surgeon would laugh at the idea of a biopsy with something like this.

    Plan is for me to use an antibiotic topical cream and see if we see any changes. If no changes or things get worse, I will be back in to see another doctor at the clinic who specializes in skin issues. If then she feels it necessary, I can be sent quicker to a dermatologist in Toronto or on for a biopsy. He said if he referred me to a dermatologist now, it would be months before I'd be seen.

  • Mjm_iesu
    Mjm_iesu Member Posts: 12
    edited October 2018

    anyone else have thoughts.


    :(


    Half way through topical antibiotics (and already fished two rounds of regular antibiotics- for other things) and no changes to the pink area.


    Burning sensation at top of breast and chest (but that could be from anxiety)


    So scared.

  • Mandyhiero
    Mandyhiero Member Posts: 90
    edited November 2018

    Prayers for you! I’ve been where you are. (Still am from time to time). Except mine has been going on for a year. I’ve had mammogram and ultrasound and have seen a breast surgeon and other doctors on numerous occasions. . I keep telling myself that if it were IBC that I would definitly know it by now and not still be questioning it. I have itchiness that comes and goes, pain in one breast, and I feel like my pores on the painful breast look a little larger than the other one. That could be all in my head. Not sure.

    Just wanted to let you know that you aren’t alone. I have two girls, 4 and almost 2 and to think about not being around to raise them is the most sickening feeling I’ve ever had.

  • christina0001
    christina0001 Member Posts: 1,491
    edited November 2018

    I feel your fear! Having had breast cancer and two kiddos, let me try to ease your mind and assure you that breasts do crazy things before and after pregnancy, and especially if you were nursing!

    If the antibiotics don't help, all that may mean is that it's not bacterial related, and could be a million other relatively innocent things. A dermatologist or even your ob/gyn can hopefully get you healed up! Good luck!

  • Mjm_iesu
    Mjm_iesu Member Posts: 12
    edited November 2018

    thanks for the response.

    I am so scared. It’s been there for at least 8 weeks, but could be as much as a few months. (I originally thought nothing of it so didn’t keep track of when it started).

    The most I think about that breast (and sometimes I obsess over it) he more I feel uncomfortable sensations.

    Does/did yours have a pink patch? Mine does... no changes at al to the spot since I’ve noticed, but if I look up early stage IBC, I feel like it looks somilar. Relatively small and with paler mosquitos bite looking area.

    I can’t shake this bad feeling and it’s torturing me.

    I started another thread about these fears about a week ago with more updates there.

    I am going for a mammogram and ultrasound next Friday. My husband is being tested for prostate issues on Tuesday and he just broke his food and my 1 year old was just tested for heart issues, just want all of us to be ok

  • Mandyhiero
    Mandyhiero Member Posts: 90
    edited November 2018

    No red spots other than the scratch marks where I’m always scratching. I honestly know what you’re going through when you say you feel like it’s torturing you. I feel the same way. I sit and cry some days because I’m so scared. But I can’t go back to the BS because I’m afraid she thinks I’m crazy. All I can do is pray and hope for the best.

    I’m praying for your whole family that everything turns out to be okay.

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