DCIS 5 years ago, red, hot, swollen reconstructed breast

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romyles
romyles Member Posts: 36
edited August 2020 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)

Tuesday my right breast started itching on the bottom and outside. 2 hours later I looked and it was red in a small area and by the next morning the entire breast was red, hot, and swollen. I saw the nurse practitioner at the breast surgeon and had an ultrasound that shows fluid. They told me mastitis which I wasn't sold on but said ok I'll go with this and take the meds. After getting home and having time to think and research it just doesn't add up that I'd have that much breast tissue to get this inflamed. After talking to my sister, a triple negative survivor I decided to call back this morning. They already had a new plan for me...more antibiotic and see plastic surgeon. It's a holiday week so getting in anywhere isn't easy. My concern is inflammatory breast cancer or lymphoma from the implant. I'm in wait mode and am sorry that I'm posting in an area before diagnosis but I'm already a survivor of another. My daughter has cutaneous T cell lymphoma which is in the same catagoras the lymphoma caused by implants. I'm just looking for guidance and should I be more aggressive holiday weekend or not??

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  • 2FUN
    2FUN Member Posts: 956
    edited June 2020

    can u tell me what happened? I am having the same problem!

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  • prepmom
    prepmom Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2020

    2Fun- I’m not the OP but recently had a similar experience so I thought I’d share. I’m 7 months out from implant reconstruction. No issues until about 5 weeks ago. My breast got very pink and very swollen. No fever but I was so tired. Called PS and was put on Keflex for 10 days for infection. US a few days later showed mild fluid. Keflex started working after a few days- first redness went away then swelling began to subside.
    Met with PS 3 weeks ago & he said that if infection returns (within 4-6 weeks) he’ll have to remove implant and clean out the site. May or may not be able to replace implant immediately. If not, implant will be replaced after 6 weeks.
    So tomorrow will be 4 weeks off Keflex. No signs of infection. Keeping my fingers crossed.
    I hope this is helpful & you’re feeling better soon.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2020

    2FUN - I'd make an appointment with your dermatologist.

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  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited June 2020

    Prepmom, I am having the same issue today. I had breast reconstruction this January and last night, after 5 months, low grade fever. Today, I noticed one side of the breast is swollen, red and hot. I feel very tired. I just emailed the PS. When I had TS in this side of the breast I had the same problem that antibiotic did solve temporary.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited June 2020

    I had recurring cellulitis in the skin of my chest wall, both after the mastectomy and after the delayed DIEP. I think a port flush seeded my system with bacteria that took a lot of rounds of antibiotics, both oral and IV, to resolve. Every time it happened the skin of my breast got red and hot, and I was feverish and miserable. Talk to your plastic surgeon, who may need to admit you for IV bug killers. I'd bet the farm it's bacteria, not IBC.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited June 2020

    Seconding what sbelizabeth says. But don't fool around and wait. Infections & cellulitis are serious.

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  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited June 2020

    My PS started me in 3 antibiotics today and he wants to see me this coming Monday. I have no more fever but the red, swollen breast is still the same. Do you ladies recommend anything I can do during this time?

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  • prepmom
    prepmom Member Posts: 31
    edited June 2020

    Lilly- I’m glad to hear you’ve begun antibiotics. It took about 24 hours for the redness to diminish. Swelling took a lot longer. I’d say it took almost a week for the swelling to really subside.
    Wishing you a speedy & complete recovery from this.

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  • LillyIsHere
    LillyIsHere Member Posts: 830
    edited June 2020

    Thank you prepmom. PS called today all concern and told me to cancel dentist cleaning I have next week. I greatly appreciate you all sharing your experiences. Hugs :)

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  • Eigna
    Eigna Member Posts: 438
    edited August 2020

    Hello ladies- I was diagnosed yesterday with breast cellulitis over the phone and with me sending pics of my breast. I never thought I would be doing this. I started antibiotics yesterday evening. It’s not even 24 hours but I am anxious for the redness to go away. I just hope they diagnosed me proper and it’s not IBC. I have a part of my breast that has the appearance of an orange peel but nurse says that swelling sometimes does that. I do feel a bit less swollen this morning but redness is still there

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited August 2020

    Eigna - as I posted to you on another thread - please get an appointment with a trained, certified lymphadema therapist. Don't put it off.

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