Please read if worried about IBC

Hello ladies,

I have had a rough couple of months due to a breast concern that quickly spiraled out of control. I wanted to share my story so that someone else going through the diagnostic process may be able to have a little comfort knowing that there is just as strong as a possibility that their symptoms are benign.

Over Labor Day weekend I decided to take a walk, work on my health, I am overweight and trying to get this weight off. I have very large breast and decided to wear a neoprene compression vest over my wire bra. The vest was probably 2 sizes too small and flattened my breasts significantly. During the walk, the side of my right breast started to hurt very bad, the wire was digging into me. I thought about going back and taking the vest off, but then decided just to finish the walk and take it off as soon as I got home. I completed the walk (about 3 miles) still in pain and did a few ab workouts when I got home before I removed the vest and bra. The pain persisted throughout the night into the next day. Before going to bed the next night I felt several small lumps in my right breast and had my husband confirm that they were there. They were small and felt like marbles and moved around. I broke down in tears. My mother developed breast cancer when she was only 34 and when they caught it, it was already stage 3. I am 32 and have never been screened for breast cancer despite the fact that I should have started yearly mammograms nearly 10 years ago. I spoke to my mom and she assured me that it was from the bra and give it a few weeks to heal.

The next day my breast started looking lumpy and distorted. A week later, I was still able to feel the lumps. Also, I developed a large groove down the side of my right breast. The next week the skin on my right breast started getting thick and the pores were enlarged. I googled my symptoms and Inflammatory Breast Cancer kept popping up. What my skin was doing is something called Peau d'orange, your skin gets thick and starts to take the appearance of an orange peel. I immediately started stressing out. After another week of my skin looking like this, I went to the doctors. I have no insurance, so I knew I was in for a huge bill and was trying to put this off as much as possible, but from what I was reading about IBC time is not on your side. I saw a physician assistant who was not able to feel any lumps but did notice the large groove going down the outer side of my breast and noticed the thickened skin. She didn't feel any enlarged lymph nodes and told me that it didn't look like IBC to her, but because of my family history with breast cancer she was getting me a referral for ultra sound and mammogram. She said it was to give me "peace of mind".

I called to schedule the ultra sound and mammogram and was quoted $1500.00! I was shocked of how much things cost. I called everywhere to see about a program that would help with this cost but was told by several different organizations (including Susan G Coleman) that due to COVID, they did not receive funding this year. Mind you, by this time it was October, breast cancer awareness month. I ended up leaving a message with the CDC for WA state (where I live) and they called me back the day before my mammogram. There is a program through the CDC for WA state that gives funding to people who are symptomatic for Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer and Colon Cancer. And by the grace of God, they were partnered with the hospital that I was doing my imaging at. This program pays for imaging, any biopsies and treatment if cancer is diagnosed.

I got the mammogram, and ultra sound. So Painful, I have large breast and the technician couldn't position them correctly so I did about 20 pictures. Ultra sound wasn't showing anything so I had technician squish me and then the radiologist came and squished the breast some more. Radiologist noticed edema and slight asymmetry also a small tumor. I was scheduled for a biopsy and told to start looking for a doctor to do a skin biopsy to address skin thickening. A week later I was in for a core needle biopsy guided by mammogram. I was terrified. I had to wait 3 days for my results. They came back benign. Fibroadenoma. I was also told that I have dense breast, so its harder to catch tumors early due to this. I ended up getting an allergic reaction on my nipple that left small blisters all over my areola from the bandage tape! Days of vasoline rubs cleared that up.

Since the tumor did not address the skin issue, I was set up for a skin biopsy with a surgeon the following week. Surgeon did an exam, asked if I was ever prescribed antibiotics. I told her no. She did the skin biopsy. It was quick and didn't hurt but required stiches. I got the results back 3 days later. No sign of inflammatory breast cancer! There was an infection detected. Antibiotics were prescribed, no more medical procedures!

This all went down in the course of 2 months. I was severely depressed and was anxious and not able to sleep for weeks. My husband was nervous as well but really stood beside me through it all. I just want others to know that there is help out there financially. The hospital didn't give me any information on programs but I did my research and was able to go through all these procedures without having to pay. This would have been a major financial blow to my family. Also, please always keep hope that your symptoms may be benign. Rely on faith to get you through the diagnostic process and treatment if required. I am rooting for you!