understanding diagnosis??

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suelynn
suelynn Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
understanding diagnosis??
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  • suelynn
    suelynn Member Posts: 11
    edited September 2007

    Can anyone help me understand this ... is IBC a clinical diagnosis based on having the various symptoms associated with IBC or is it something only confirmed with a biopsy. 

    I feel like this should be clearer than it is in my mom's case ... she was diagnosed 2 1/2 yrs ago - stage 3b - triple negative - 6cm tumor - 3+ nods. Her report says invasive ductal with dermal invasion of the lymphatics present.  Her other symptoms at the time - very swollen breast, inverted nipple, red bruised mark on breast, tumor did not show on mammo.  My mom remembers when diagnosed (during those very blurry few hours/days) one of the Drs said "we're still on the fence" if it was inflammatory breast cancer ... Shouldn't my mother be able to ask her onc - what did I have? Is it black and white like that or is it more grey? I'm sorry if these questions sound silly - I just don't get it in her case with all the visible symptoms matching IBC.

    I know in the big scheme of things it doesn't matter, she's been doing well.   These questions have all come up again as she is having this unexplained red bruised mark in her armpit of her mastectomy-side for 1 1/2 months now ... she's been treated with various antibiotics and saw a dermatologist and her onc - only to have the mark looking very dimished on those days. She said she has had other pink pimple marks appear and go away closer to her scare mark.  No one seems too worried.  It's not an angry mark - faint and pinkish only - size of a nickle.  I just don't know if you let it go, unexplained, or keep pushing to have it checked out, biopsy maybe. Does this sound worrisome ... or do I need to stop reading the internet!

    Thank you!!

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  • cfrie
    cfrie Member Posts: 19
    edited September 2007

    Hi - I was diagnosed with IBC and as far as I know it is confirmed with a biopsy only, physical symptoms are not enough to say for sure whether it is or isn't IBC.  I had a lot of the symptoms, but when I was originally biopsied my dr didn't even think that it was going to come back as cancer.  I would think that her doctor should be able to tell her one way or another if it was IBC.

    As far as your mom's new symptoms, I would push to get it biopsied if the antibiotics do not clear it up.  I guess it is probably a good sign if her doctors aren't worried, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

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  • erika-canada
    erika-canada Member Posts: 142
    edited September 2007

    Hi:

    Just wanted to say that my IBC cleared up with antibiotics; but I insisted on a biopsy. sure enough IBC with 3 nodes involved. thank God I was persistent. please, ask her to have a biosy!

    Erika

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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited September 2007

    My skin biopsy was negative but the IBC diagnosis was made clinically by symptoms (rapid onset, enlarged breast, bruise).  But people can have a variety of symptoms.  I am classified as Stage IIIb based on size of tumor (6cm, grade 3, diffuse, pos. nodes suspected, no evidence of spread to other organs). The onc, and surgeon have doubts about the dx but the radiologist is positive.   I may never know for sure if I have IBC.  The words "dermal invasion" in your mother's report supposedly indicates IBC.  As you said, she's doing well two and a half years out and that's what counts. Apparently there are grey areas. The new symptoms should be checked out though as others have suggested.

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  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 1,074
    edited September 2007

    Suelynn,

    Definitely have your mom get checked. My IBC was actually diagnose after I had a diagnosis of IDC stage IIIA. I had a small pimple that got a bit rashy. I had a skin punch biopsy which showed the same cancerous cells as the IDC.  My diagnosis was then changed to IBC, stage IIIb. IDC or IBC, it is all so scary. Please encourage your mom to be proactive.

    Hugs and Prayers,

    Lexi

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  • suelynn
    suelynn Member Posts: 11
    edited September 2007

    A couple things... I forgot to mention my mom did have her bloodwork checked when she did go in to see her onc.  Everything came back normal.  I have to believe her oncologist would take a biopsy if it warranted ... the mark is so faint, he felt, the results would probably be negative or inconclusive. He did say for her to follow-up if it got worse, (same comment from the dermatologist - mark was almost gone).  My mom is watching it ... hopefully it will disappear!

    Erika - you said your mark got better with antibiotics... did it get worse again after you finished the antibiotics? how long?

    As far as knowing my moms case IDC/IBC ... it sounds like sometimes things are a little grey. Things went so quickly for her, she was diagnosed and the next day had a mastectomy. Not too much time to think about things. Also, her tumor came out of nowhere - clear ultrasound and 7 wks later 6cm tumor (hindsight looking back at the first ultrasound showed some signs of streching, but they agreed that was looking with hindsight).

    These boards are so full of information! thank you for sharing!

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  • erika-canada
    erika-canada Member Posts: 142
    edited September 2007

    Hi Suelynn:

    Mine looked and felt inflammed, pink in color around areolar region. I believed it was a cyst acting up, as mammo didn't show anything. I was on anti-biotics for 10 days, as Dr thought it was mastitis. It looked like a normal breast, about 5-6 weeks later same inflammation again. Asked for an ultasound, was sure cyst would need draining. extremely tiny lump was found and Radiologist could tell by blood flow that it wasn't a cyst. He did a core biopsy right then and there and 2 days later I had the results. I had never even heard if IBC. I always heard "if it hurts, it's not cancer". Was so sure it was a B9 cyst; was devastated beyond words.Cry

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  • Lauralynne
    Lauralynne Member Posts: 123
    edited September 2007

    Hi Ladies-

    My IBC was clinically diagnosed by my radiation oncologist, who had seen and treated IBC in other women.  He took one look at my breast and said I was going to be treated with twice daily radiation for 50 treatments until we get it under control.  The radiation did shrink my breast significantly and I was ready for surgery in a few months.  3 months after surgery, I had a red spot show in my mastectomy scar line that was biopsied and sure enough, it was positive for inflammatory breast cancer and I still am being treated for it now since I have developed skin mets to both sides of my chest.

    Whenever you are in doubt, better to get it checked out...so you can begin treatment right away, or stop worrying if did turns out to be nothing.

    Laura  

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