I’m concerned with these spots that developed

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mrsbellet
mrsbellet Member Posts: 3
edited June 2020 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

35 F

I noticed the larger light brown spot on the side of my right breast about 2 years ago, but a cluster of small brown spots started forming between my breasts 4 months ago. Sometimes around my period my nipples get a little itchy or achey, but other than that I have no pain. No swollen lymph nodes. I'm not pregnant no do I have any children, but have been trying to have a baby the past 8 months with my husband. Google lead me to many links on inflammatory breast cancer and now I'm scared. Could I have your thoughts please? I tried uploading pics but was not permitted to.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2020

    Hi mrsbellet, and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

    We're so sorry you're here and worrying, but we're glad you've found us.

    First, stay off of Dr. Google!

    Second, Inflammatory Breast Cancer is aggressive and quick-moving -- if you'd seen symptoms back to 2 years ago, or even only 4 months ago, IBC would be very apparent. It's a rare form of breast cancer to begin with, and breast cancer at your age is also relatively rare.

    All of that being said, we always suggest you take any breast concerns to your doctor so you can get peace of mind. Please let us know what your doctor says, and try not to worry!

    --The Mods

  • mrsbellet
    mrsbellet Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2020

    Thank you so much for your reply. I made an appointment with my obgyn for tomorrow morning and hopefully I'll get good news. I need an order from him to get an ultrasound/mammogram so if necessary, will go from there.

    Google is evil!

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2020

    Great -- keep us posted!

  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited June 2020

    Keep in mind that no matter what symptoms you type into Google, if it includes the word "breast" it will lead to inflammatory breast cancer scare sites.

  • mrsbellet
    mrsbellet Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2020

    I learned that the hard way. Hours of googling only results in IBC. Not a single link was comforting.

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited June 2020

    Instead of googling about brown spots on breasts, google about brown spots on skin. You will find lots of skin conditions that can appear on the skin of the breast. Check out the pictures and you will probably find something that looks exactly like what you have.

    When I have some health issue I am concerned about, like everyone else, I google to see if I can find out what it might be. My rule of thumb is that if some health condition has a list of 8 symptoms and I have just one, then that's definitely not what I have. Even if I have two of the symptoms, it's almost certainly not what I have.

    IBC is very distinctive and has a number of symptoms. At most, you have one symptom (and brown spots don't really fit the classic definition for IBC).

    From your description, this is much more likely to be a skin condition than a breast condition. If you don't want to run around in circles and have unnecessary and stressful tests, I think your first doctor's visit should be to a dermatologist.

  • blue22
    blue22 Member Posts: 280
    edited June 2020

    Hi mrsbellet,

    I am glad you will be able to address your concerns with your doctor so quickly. That being said, brown spots starting from 2 years ago definitely does not sound like IBC. Hopefully that should be of some comfort!

    Good luck tomorrow,

    blue

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