Attention kimmie39 A QUESTION PLEASE

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NONE62661
NONE62661 Member Posts: 57
Attention kimmie39 A QUESTION PLEASE

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  • NONE62661
    NONE62661 Member Posts: 57
    edited May 2008

    It

     has been suggested by someone on this board that you might have a few answers for me.

    If you have time you may look under JOANSNF for my posts on this subject.

    I will try to be brief. Dx at 63 in 04 w/IDC - lumpectomy w/clear margins - 16 nodes all neg./ 36 rads w/boosts - Arimidex 5 years.

    I have been told it is very highly unlikely that I would get IBC with these stats.

    Here is the problem. My breast never went down completely since rads. They tell me it is fibrosis. Two months ago I got a hard bump on that breast that created a bruise. They told me the bruise would take a long time to dissipate.

    Now the bruise is a little lighter but there is a redish pink bruised area going down the side of my breast.

    When I use warm compresses and take a Benedril it gets much lighter, the by the end of the day it is back again.

    Does this sound any thing like what you had?

    I do have an appointment Friday the 15th but I want to know as much as I can before I go in. (My doctor tends to think everything is nothing.)

    I emailed Ask Y-Me and they said it is probably just the bruise trying to dissipate and with the fibrosis, mild le, and less nodes it is taking a long time.

    Sorry this is so long! I know you can not tell me what it is -- I just wanted to hear from someone that got IBC after traditional BC and treatment.

    Joan

  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2008

    Hi Joan,

    I am the one who told you about kimmie39.  Sometimes her visits here are few and far between because she is currently doing chemo etc.  Here is  a post she made on the IBC diagnosed, lets share our stories thread back in October.  Hope this helps!

    Hi girls,

    Heres another in a long list of same-o same-o bad diagnoses.

    First a little back ground. I was first diagnosed in 1995 at the age of 27. right breast IDC. 3  lymph nodes also cancerous. 6 rounds of ACF every three  weeks, lumpectomy followed by 6 wks radiation. 10 yrs after and I thought I was done with cancer, took out a second mortgage on my house and had extensive plastic surgery to lift my breast and make them the same size (YEA!!) also had a tummy tuck.  Less than a year later an area about the size of a 50cent pc starts getting red on my right breast. I call my gynecologist and they give me an appointment. A week later gyno. says " I dont see anything that worries me but Ill send you to see your general surgeon to see if you need any testing". O.K. Make an appointment (no hurry) I Go to see surgeon He says " I dont see anything that worries me because there is no lump but we will send you for a mammo and ultrasound to be sure since you have a past history" O.K. make me an appointment and of course they are in no hurry. I go for the test and the radiologist come back and says " I dont see anything to worry about" I say look something is wrong. He looks at my breast and says he will look at the tests results again and send his recommendations to the surgeon. I have a follow up with my surgeon and he informs me that the mammo. and ultrasound were both clear and the radiologist doesnt recommend anymore testing so I have 3 choices. 1. Do nothing , wait 6 months and see if there are any changes.    2. Do random skin biopies since there is no lump to biopsy.    3. Have a MRI but bear in mind that the radiologist did not indicate it was needed so my insurance may not cover the cost.   I tell him Im worth it and we schedualed the MRI, and he gave me a follow up appointment  a couple of weeks later. I have my MRI and while waiting for my follow up appointment with the surgeon my breast is  getting worse. I call his office and ask why I have to wait so long to see him and get my results. They see me the next day. At this appointment (which is 3 months from my first appointment with my gyno.) I find out I have cancer in BOTH breast and most likely the lymph nodes on BOTH sides as well.

    Im currently in treatment. I have one more cycle of chemo left and then on to surgery (bilateral mast.) which I might add Im scared about. '

    Anyway my biggest obstacle right now is trying to figure out if I also should have chemo AFTER surgery, Sounds like its determined by whether or not there is still cancer in the nodes at the time of surgery.

    Anyway thats my story.

    Hang in there and post when you need help or support. 

    Hugs from Virginia

    Kim



     

  • NONE62661
    NONE62661 Member Posts: 57
    edited May 2008

    THANKS SUNNEEDAZE!

    WELL, THAT CERTAINLY IS SCARY! I WONDER HOW SHE IS DOING!

    FROM EVERYTHING I AM READING AND SEEING I DON'T THINK I HAVE IBC...... BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE DR. SAYS ON FRIDAY.

    I ASSUME THAT IS YOUR PICTURE ON YOUR POSTS? MY GOODNESS YOU ARE YOUNG TO HAVE THIS! I AM CONSTANTLY AMAZED AT HOW MANY REALLY YOUNG LADIES HAVE BC.

    HOW ARE YOU DOING?

    THANKS AGAIN FOR POSTING AND ----

    GOD BLESS!

    JOAN

  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2008

    Hi

    Im sorry I did not get back to you sooner. I have been in Texas getting all new testing and meeting a new treatment team. For the record they think I maybe a good candidate for a Stem Cell Transplant and Im excited to have another weapon to fight this thing with.

    Thanks Sunneedazee!! You picked up the ball I missed !!!!!!! I really cant wait to help others and you were able to attach some info for her in my absence. Im grateful.

    OK as Im sure you read I did not have the same symptoms as you BUT stay on guard!!!!!! Do not allow ANYONE to belittle your fears, or down play the importance of your symptoms. I can not count on my fingers and toes how many bad stories Ive heard since my diagnoses!!! And they all start with a woman who feared something was seriously wrong and at least one person in the medical field that was under informed. Ill be waiting to hear how your appointment goes. I had to demand attention and if Id listened to the docs I would not be hear to type these words. 

    Hope this helps!

    Hugs from Va

    Kim 

  • NONE62661
    NONE62661 Member Posts: 57
    edited May 2008

    UPDATE FOR KIM AND SUNNEE AND ANY OTHER LADIES THAT ANSWERED MY POSTS.

    THE DR. APPT. WAS FRIDAY THE 15TH. THE BRUISE THAT I GOT FROM A DOOR HITTING ME BEFORE CHRISTMAS- ON THE TOP OF MY BREAST IS LIGHTER AND SO IS THE REDISH BRUISE MARKS GOING DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE (LOOKS LIKE IT IS COMING DOWN FROM THE BRUISE)- THE DISCOLORED PLACE IS JUST A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE REST OF MY BREAST - NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL DENTED. THERE IS SOME DARK PLACES LIKE AFTER RADS ON THE LEFT OF THE BREAST.

    THE DR. DID AN EXAM - DID NOT FEEL ANYTHING. HE SAID ------

    "I DON'T THINK IT IS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND IS MOST LIKELY FAT NECROSIS AGGRAVATED BY THE BRUISE - BUT I WANT YOU TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAM.

    HE REPEATED AGAIN THAT HE DOESN'T THINK IT IS ANYTHING BUT THAT HE DOES NOT TAKE CHANCES AND WANTS TO SEE ME AS SOON AS THE RESULTS OF THE MAMMOGRAM ARE KNOWN.

    IT WAS LATE FRIDAY AND THEY CAN NOT CALL UNTIL MONDAY. HOPEFULLY, I WILL GET IN RIGHT AWAY. THE NURSE SAID TO CALL AND SHE WILL TELL ME THE RESULTS IF THE RAD. DOESN'T TELL ME RIGHT AWAY.

     MY QUESTION NOW IS ------ DOES ANYONE KNOW IF A MAMMOGRAM SHOWS FAT NECROSIS?

    THANKS AGAIN TO ALL.

    JOAN

  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2008

    I wish I could be more help but I really do not know. I will however try to find a better answer for you.

    Kim 

  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2008

    OK What I can find says you need a triple assessment including

    1. a breast exam

    2. diagnostic mammogram

    3. a fine needle aspiration

    In younger women some docs use an ultra sound instead of a mammogram. Also some Docs choose a core needle biopsy instead of fine needle biopsy. 

    Fat necrosis is similar to a breast tumor in look and feel but is not malignant. It is rare and needs no treatment or follow up.

    Hope this helps.

    Kim 

  • NONE62661
    NONE62661 Member Posts: 57
    edited May 2008

    KIM,

    THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. I HAVE HAD THE EXAM AND WILL GET THE DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAM EITHER MONDAY OR TUESDAY.  I WILL NOT BE THE LEAST BIT SURPRISED IF I END UP WITH A BIOPSY. MY DR. TAKES NO CHANCES.

    I WANT TO ADD THAT I WISH YOU THE BEST AND WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT YOU FIND OUT FROM THE TEXAS TESTS.

    JOAN

  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited February 2008

    Joan

    Its so refreshing to here someone out there has a doc. that doesnt mind turning over a few stones to uncover the truth. Not to mention a correct diagnoses. Hope you let him or her know how special they are.

    Ill have my fingers crossed for you Wink.

    Kim 

  • NONE62661
    NONE62661 Member Posts: 57
    edited May 2008

    HELLO AGAIN,

    I HAVE AN APPT. FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC MAMMOGRAM TUESDAY AT 8:10 A.M. -- AND THE DR. APPT. NOT UNTIL THE 29TH.

    THEY SAID IF THE MAMMOG. SHOWS ANYTHING THEY WILL WORK ME IN SOONER.

    I HAVE ABOUT DECIDED THIS MIGHT BE LYMPHEDEMA IN MY BREAST WITH THE BRUISE MAKING IT WORSE. I  FOUND A SITE  http://www.lymphnotes.com that sounds a lot like what I am experiencing.

    I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LADIES THAT HAVE ANSWERED MY POSTS.

    GOD BLESS,

    JOAN

  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited February 2008
    Joan, that is wonderful that you have a doctor that is proacitve in helping you figure out what is wrong.  I am glad that it sounds like it isn't IBC.  Please keep us posted!
    wishing you all the best!

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