What else could it be???

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inlimbo
inlimbo Member Posts: 30
What else could it be???

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  • inlimbo
    inlimbo Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2008

    I am 46 y/o about 6wks ago I felt a hard egg shaped lump in my right breast. Was seen by a Dr. on 3/4, by that time my skin was bright pink and hard. Just from 3/4 til today my breast has swelled to 2x the size of my left one, the skin is now bright red and has that "orange peel" look, hard dimpled and tender. I had a mammogram and ultrasound today. The radiologist said I have a large breast mass 4cm and also lymph node involvement. She said I do not have a cyst or an infection. I thought I would hear from the surgeon at the Breast Clinic today.The radiologist seemed to feel a biopsy should be done asap. So here I sit waiting, with 3 million things going through my mind and none of them are good. Can anyone tell me, WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE????   Please

  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2008

    inlimbo- (very appropriate name by the way)

    I am sorry you are in limbo. The waiting and wondering is absolutely frustrating. It sounds like you have doctors who are proactive in figuring out what is going on, and I'm sure that if you do indeed have IBC you will get the best possible care. I pray that you will be able to find peace and comfort, and that you will be able to deal with whatever is causing your problems in your breast, whether it be IBC, cancer, or something else. Please keep us posted. We will be here for you!!!!

  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited March 2008

    As every one will tell you, waiting is the hardest part.  One you have a treatment plan in place, you'll feel as if you're doing something to get rid of the beast.  I'm hoping  of course that it's not cancer. If it is IBC, with aggressive treatment, many women are living NED for years.

  • inlimbo
    inlimbo Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2008

    Thank You for talking to me. It's now Sunday evening and my right breast has grown since Friday!!!!! I have a purple bruise on top of the lump now, I'm wondering if that is from the mammogram which hurt like hell.My breast started itching yesterday and hasn't stopped yet. The surgeon did not call on Friday and the breast clinic is closed on the weekend. I went to work yesterday and today and put my body on autopilot. I don't know how I got through it. Anyway, I made a decision. I'm picking up my referral for the biopsy at the clinic first thing in the am, then heading straight for the Breast Clinic. When I get there , I am telling them I'm not leaving until someone tells me what the hell is going on with my breast. I'll take my shirt off and sit at the front desk if I have to. I guess you can tell my nerves are shot. I will keep you posted.

  • lexi4
    lexi4 Member Posts: 1,074
    edited March 2008

    Yes, go in there and make sure they check your breast. I know how scared you are. The unknown can be scarier than knowing what you are dealing with and getting it treated.

    Hang in there. Praying for NO cancer.

    Hugs,

    Lexi

  • inlimbo
    inlimbo Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2008

    hello everyone,                                                                                 I am back. I did get to see my Dr. at the clinic who told me I had an abcess on my breast (on the lump) from having the mammogram. I've been draining since late Sunday night. WHAT A MESS!!!!             I am scheduled for an excisional biopsy on Friday at 1pm at the breast clinic. I asked my Dr. to tell me what she really thinks after seeing the test results. She says it is most likely cancer but won't know if it's IBC until after the biopsy Friday. I actually feel much calmer now because I know SOMETHING and also because I know something is going to be done. I think I'm going to get a good night sleep finally. Does anyone know about excisional biopsies?

  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2008

    Limbo, thanks for the update. I am sorry about you having an abscess! I hope it gets feeling better soon.

    Good luck on your biopsy. I know it is hard to wait, so try to keep busy and try to keep your mind off it.

    I can totally relate about being calmer because you know SOMETHING! When I was trying to get diagnosed (it only took almost 5 months ) so many doctors made me feel so foolish for insisting that I had something really wrong. The day I had my mam., and then the radiologist did an ultrasound. While I was laying on the table, I was telling her about being brushed off and told by so many doctors that it was nothing. She patted me on my arm, and said, this isn't nothing, but we are going to take care of you. We believe you have IBC, and we are going to get you taken care of.

    That night even though I had biopsies scheduled for the following morning, I felt so much better because something was finally being done and they were taking my worries seriously.

    Take care of yourself, and please let us know how everything goes.

  • prestressed
    prestressed Member Posts: 37
    edited March 2008

    i  recall   a woman saying   that    inflammation came and went    please   get back to me     i have had 7 times since october    but  the last antibiotics     have  kept it away for 3 weeks     any simularity   ?  need to know  thank you 

  • inlimbo
    inlimbo Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2008

    Hello Everyone, I finally know the answer to my question, What else could it be???  It's Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Thanks to all who listened to me. I'm really not happy with this, but I'll tell you NOT KNOWING is the worst. There are still many things I do not know, like the stage, and what kind of treatment I will need. I hope I'll learn more soon. I am having a meeting with Medical Oncology on Tuesday as well as CT scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis ( same day). I do feel better because I know what I have now and I know I will have treatment soon. I will keep posting !

  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2008

    inlimbo, I am so sorry that you do have cancer, but I know what you mean about the relief in knowing what is going on. Now you can DO something about it rather than just WORRY! FYI, IBC is a clinical diagnosis, and invasive ductal carcinoma is the description of the cancer cells. I have both Invasive ductal carcinoma as well as invasive lobular carcinoma cells.

    We will be here for you every step of the way. I wish you all the best, and I will pray for you.

    p.s. are you going to change your name now that you are no longer in limbo? LOL! Once we have cancer, we are always in limbo because of all the worry, and stress and fears!!!

  • mrs_X_Sunneedazee
    mrs_X_Sunneedazee Member Posts: 541
    edited March 2008

    This comment is in regards to prestressed question:

    I had antibiotics twice before I was diagnosed with IBC. They made the bright red color subside, but my breast was still enlarged. the color of my breast was a pinkish purplish bruise looking area, that gradually covered more and more of my breast as time went on.

    I hope you can figure out what is going on, and I sincerely hope that it isn't IBC. Good luck and best wishes!!!

  • kimmie39
    kimmie39 Member Posts: 319
    edited March 2008

    INLIMBO

    heres a great online support/info site. All the best

    breastcancer.org

    Kim 

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