Hi All
DX April 08. Had WLE,5 out of 7 nodes infected, had chemo and rads, finished end of Nov 08. Am 41 now. Only had one operation, in May 08. Breast calmed down after minor rads damage, then got cellulitus which requried a hospital stay for intravenous antibiotics last summer and fully cleared up after a couple of months more of antibiotics.
Since this May my breast has been hard red swollen and sore. 3 GPs said it was cellulitus and gave me huge does of antibiotics. It has calmed down to a degree. My breast surgeon doesn’t think it’s cellulitus, neither does my onc. Have had routine annual mammo and extra ultrasound, so feel reassured. Ultrasound operator said he could see inflammation around the scar tissue inside my breast. None of them can explain why or what is causing it, given that my surgery was so long ago, and the fact that it hasn’t been a constant problem. They say I am ‘a puzzle, an enigma’ - that’s not what I want to be!!!
All I know is that it is sore. Has anyone experienced anything similar? What happened? Were you given any treatment? Did it resolve itself?
Kinden
x
Hi sorry that you are going through this new worry… Hope it is not - but have they ruled out IBC (inflammatory breast cancer) it doesn’t show up on mammograms - they normally confirm by taking a biopsy. I was diagnosed May 2008 and my breast suddenly went pink and hot and hard. Hope someone else can help with other suggestions.
Theresa x
Hi Kinden - and Theresa
Kinden, I reiterate what Theresa has said, being an IBC lady myself my mammogram and ultrasound were completely clear. The IBC was only diagnosed after a bloody nipple discharge and an operation to remove the milk ducts, at the same time they did a biopsy which found the cancer.
Sorry to hear you are having further worries, keep on at them until you get an answer, I agree you don’t want to be an enigma do you!
Take care both
P x
Thanks Theresa and Peacock.
I had not thought of IBC, but thanks for mentioning it. I rang my bcn and was reassured by her that it is not that because that does not come and go and my symptoms do. It is really hurting today, especially the nipple, and much redder than 2 days ago when I saw my breast surgeon. Fortuitously she rang me today and so I mentioned this to her and saw her as I had a hospital appt with a dermatologist this evening anyway. She agreed that it looked worse, but thought it less swollen. She prescribed some anti-inflammatories, so I’ll give them a go. If it still doesn’t settle, she will arrange for a biopsy to be taken.
I do think IBC has been ruled out, although she did say that it can be a form of recurrence so they do look for it.
Thanks for your help and support, hope you had a good day today.
Kinden
x