I’m worried I have IBC

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CodyCat
CodyCat Member Posts: 6
edited May 2019 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Okay, so, I have hypochondria and extremely bad anxiety. I googled my symptoms, which I know is a bad thing to do. By the way, I'm 21, and have no family history of breast cancer. Just thought I'd say that before getting in with the other details. I've noticed, under both of my breasts, right under the nipple is a small dimple. They are close to the same location on each, but look a little different. One looks like a straight line, and one you can barely see. Ive taken pics and you can see it more in the camera roll. I don't feel the dimples, but I can see them. One looks like discoloration, like a bruise. I do squeeze there, rather hard, when checking my breasts. The reason why that one freaks me out badly is because I saw a picture of a dimple on a lady's breast that looks a bit like mine on my left. I'm sure all breast dimples looks pretty much the same, but it's a bit different than the one on the right, but maybe because my left breast is a bit bigger and saggier. The thing is I rarely do self breast exams, I haven't paid too close attention to my breasts, until this anxiety. Breast cancer never crossed my mind. So, I don't know if these were there before or not. My aunt says that having some dimples on fat boobs is normal. My boobs are a bit saggy, I am a bit overweight. I assumed, maybe it's cellulite. I do have that around other parts of my body. When I stretch the skin above my chest, and look at those locations, I don't see any dimples, I only see them when taking pictures with the flash of my phone. With my arms raised up. I don't see them standing normally. Is this a good sign? Would a IBC dimple show even when skin is stretched? I do have an appointment July 9th to see an OBGYN (for different reasons, but I'll bring it up when I see her.) Do you think I should be concerned? I heard IBC is EXTREMELY rare, especially with my age group. I just want this anxiety to go away! :(

Also, I should inform that I do not have any other symptoms. My breasts aren’t red or swollen, my nipples are normal, they aren’t too hot. No itchiness. I have pimples in my breast,though. I do, however, have this back/shoulder pain that comes and goes. I heard that could be a symptom, too! 😰 Though back and shoulder pain have MANY other causes that are not cancer related.

Comments

  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited May 2019

    Please rest assured that you don’t have IBC, so rest easy until your obgyn appt when this will be confirmed



  • CodyCat
    CodyCat Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2019

    thank you! I just went into the bathroom and looked put my flashlight on the bathroom countertop. Used a mirror and looked. They both looked the exact same. I feel a bit better now. :) Thanks to that and your comment.

  • Salamandra
    Salamandra Member Posts: 1,444
    edited May 2019

    Our bodies change all the time and in my thirties I felt I was still learning about all the new and disconcerting things my body could do (that were still almost always normal and not a problem). At your age, even more so! It's good to learn more about your health and body and to pay attention, and it's good that you have solid health insurance that is letting you get a doctor's perspective on it. But overall, if you can internalize the message that hoofbeats is probably horses and not zebras, it will help your peace of mind long term!

    Sometimes the obvious cause of anxiety is not actually the underlying cause. I wonder if there might be other things going on in your life that your are anxious about, and these breast changes have become a sort of focal point for it? That kind of mis-triangulation is definitely something that can happen. Taking some time to think about other possible causes could be very rewarding.

    All that said, finding a change that concerns you and bringing it to the doctor is exactly the kind of self-care that we should be doing, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty or alarmist for it. It's almost always better to just see a doctor that you trust, rather than going down the rabbit hole of googling and self-diagnosis. If your doctor makes you feel guilty for asking them questions, they are not helping.

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