Terrified I have IBC at 19

At your age, infection is much more likely than IBC.

When you say you were dismissed by the breast clinic, did you actually see a doctor or did they simply refuse to schedule an appointment?

Have you been examined by any doctor, even your PCP or Gyne? Have you had any screening done, such as an ultrasound?

From whom are you awaiting this second opinion?

Even if this is an infection, with the symptoms you describe, you need to be treated. So you need to see a doctor who takes this seriously and is looking for the cause and how to resolve whatever is happening.

TCRR - stop looking at Dr. Google. He doesn't have a clue what IBC is.

When was your first appointment when they said no tests? Recently? Did you see a GYN or a breast surgeon or what kind of doc?

If I searched your symptoms I would likely find fungal (common athletes foot) skin infection, or something similar, which is very common because breasts stay damp and warm. Do you know a lot of (or any) 19 year olds with breast cancer, much less a rare breast cancer? I don’t.

TCRR, to avoid being rejected because "You are too young for breast cancer", don't say you think you have IBC or ask for testing for IBC. Just say that something is going on with your breast and you want to find out what it is. The best way to diagnose IBC is with a punch biopsy and that's also the way to diagnose skin conditions. So focus on being diagnosed - for whatever might be causing your symptoms - and don't presume IBC or breast cancer. You are more likely to attention and the appropriate testing this way.

Was the appointment with the breast surgeon at the breast clinic? Did the breast surgeon do a physical exam? What doctor referred you to the breast surgeon and breast clinic?

I’ve been there- recently I was convinced I had IBC. Turns out there are many other things it’s far more likely to be. In my case, it just cleared away. My doctor now thinks it was a reaction to my toddler elbowing me in the breast. I couldn’t rationally come to that conclusion after reading google. Don’t google. Stay right away from it. And do as these lovely and extremely knowledgeable women say- get the doctor to find out what it really is.

NCI information on diagnoses by age shows NONE for ANY breast cancer under age 20 and only about 10% of all cases diagnosed under age 45.

And please, PLEASE come back & post the answer after you see the doc. It's not fair to leave everyone here hanging with your "terrified" post - not to mention those who might come in the future.

TCRR, you have received excellent advice from everyone here.

If it turns out that you do not have IBC, I want to give you one more piece of advice: please enjoy your youth and your health, live life, and don't be dragged down by health anxiety. If you are having health anxiety, try to seek treatment for it.

Of course I can't know whether you truly are having health anxiety. Your current breast symptoms should be checked out, and it's true that sometimes young women are dismissed because of their age.

However, you still probably do not have IBC, and you might have health anxiety. I mention this because spent my 20s having health anxiety, and in retrospect I was perfectly healthy and wasted way too much time and energy on things I that never happened.

Best wishes to you and let us know how it goes.

Good, it makes sense that your GP would want to see what you are concerned about.

Let us know how it goes!

TCRR, I hope you find some answers soon, and that they are the answers we are hoping for!

Beesie:

I think that chart is for all forms of cancer, if I recall correctly. The prevalence of cancer in men grows to exceeds that of women on it.

WC3, thanks for catching that! I have edited that post and replaced the Total Cancers By Age chart with a Breast Cancer By Age chart.