Very, Very, Scared

UPDATE:  I called the DR. office yesterday and the DR. said the MRI did not show anything remarkable.  (I guess that means no cysts).  Also said the lab did the wrong tumor marker test and blood will have to be withdrawn when I am scheduled to see him on Tuesday.

I don't feel my breast is as angry red, but still quite pink and enlarged.  I had some of this peau d'orange stuff going on, but not as severe as most sights on the internet.  Also, the flat nipple thing. So the lymph nodes were/are definitely clogged but it has not been ascertained as to why.

I will finish the one course of antibiotics and see if the DR. wants to do anything further on Tuesday about the nodes.  A couple are tender, but not really enlarged.

I am holding my breath for now.  If the breast acts up again, I am going straight to Loyola Cancer Center, a large teaching hospital within reasonable driving distance.  I have been going to a fairly large regional hospital with a dedicated breast care center.

Having any form of breast cancer initially reminds me of a metronome, that thing that marks time on a piano teachers table and swings back and forth.  One minute you say, oh this is nothing just yada, yada, yada and the next minute you are convinced you are terminal (however, in the long run, we are all terminal, breast cancer or not).

Thanks for your input you that wrote. 

Sharon

Update:  I went to the onco. today.  My breast is still warm, swollen, and a nice shade or pink, with some of the orange peel stuff.   (it is not actually as red and turgid as it was, but it and the nodes hurt more).  I have been on 2000 mg of antibotics for10 days.  It is still visibly abnormal.  I asked by onco. about what I do now, and about skin biopsies.  He said the MRI and mammogram showed no masses, so wait another week.  He said skin biopsies are not worthwhile because they are hit and miss.  What does he want me to do?  Wait a couple of weeks to get to stage IV with masses instead of IIIB?  I pressured him and he wrote a prescription for a ultrasound and biopsy at the breast center.  THe breast center, very nice, very thorough ended up doing another mammogram and ultrasound. They said I needed a skin biopsy with a surgeon.   They were more than a bit upset with the onoco. as he was "working me up in circles".  I felt more comfortable with their comment that I did definitely need a biopsy.  I immediately went over the the surgeon, and he did not have an appointment until Monday, but the nurse said she would try to get me in on Thursday.   I also made an appointment with Northwestern Hospital for Monday.  If my breast is not significantly better in a day or so, I am going to go there and forget the other hospital.  (Even though my surgeon and the breast center people are very competent.

I wanted to scream at the oncologist, it doesn't have to have a lump to be breast cancer.

Thanks for your input.  I see some of you went the rounds trying to get a diagnosis.  It could still just be mastitis, but it is just not clearing up yet.

By the way, with breast cancer awareness month there are so many specials on TV (Like Lifetime) that relate a story about breast cancer.  I watch them with dedication.  HOWEVER, I find myself very upset when they get to the closing credits and have a list of people who "Lost their battle to breast cancer."  That really puts me in a funky mood.  I should turn off the TV as soon as the story line is over.  Anyone else feel this way?