Hi I wonder if anyone will be able to help me or tell me what they think. I am 32 and about 3.5 weeks ago noticed that 2 red marks had suddenly appeared on my left breast. They were really noticable and looked a bit like insect bites. I thought not much of them and thought they would go away. A few days later they were still there and still looking the same. They were a bit itchy. I showed my sister who I am staying with and she said they looked a bit like a rash, like a lovebite (they definitley aren´t that!!)or an insect bite.
I had breast implants 6 months ago so called my surgeon and he said to see my doctor and get referred to a breast specialist straight away (however this was relayed to me by his secretary so again i didn´t take much notice!). After about a week and half they still were there so I started looking on the internet at what it could be and that´s where i read about and saw pic´s of IBC. I´d never heard of this type of breast cancer before, I got really concerned then as the pictures looked just like what i had.
My sister took me to a private doctors here (i am staying in Lanzarote with her until september) and he diagnosed dermatitis!?. I was a bit miffed by this as i´ve never had anything like that before let alone on my breast! My sister mentioned IBC but he looked at us like we were mad! He was checking my breast for lumps … and there are none.
The marks are still there BUT they have faded, not gone, just faded, they are still definitley there. It´s been 3.5 weeks now since they appeared. I have also had a hot searing pain through the same breast it hurts but it comes and goes.
Can anyone tell me what they think, should i get a second opinion? The problem is that I am in lanzarote and i´m not sure if i could see a breast specialist here. Should i fly home and see someone?
Not sure if this is relevant but from what i have researched it might be… my periods started when i was very young (9) and my mother had cancer (cervical) when she was 28.
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
Louise x
Louise - I am sorry you are having these worries. As you have seen one doctor, I suppose the only alternative would be to seek a second opinion, either where you are or back here. Perhaps you could ask to be referred to a breast clinic over there.
Did the doctor give you any cream for the ‘dermatitis’ and, if so, did it help? You say the marks have faded. Is that why?
I know nothing about breast implants but looking at IBC, as you have done, it is not something to leave. You really need to get to the bottom of this quickly, just in case. It could well be nothing but if it is IBC, the sooner you start treatment the better.
breastcancercorner.org/Articles/Inflammatory-Breast-Cancer—Symptoms-and-Treatmen.aspx
Good luck.
Ann x
Hi I would take the fact that they have faded as good thing.But it’s obvious that it is still playing on your mind and that is not good as all the worry will only make you ill.Maybe it has something to do with your implants surely your surgeon should see you if you have only had them for 6 months.Failing that I would fly home and get a second opinion and maybe a referral to a breast clinc
best wishes Mel xx
Hi - so sorry to hear that you are going through this worry… I was diagnosed with IBC in May 2008 when my breast suddenly turned pink and hot to the touch… The link that Ann has given you is very good at describing the possible symptoms… Because it is so incredibly rare many GPs will go their entire career never seeing a patient with it - I was the first patient diagnosed with it at my hospital unit in 4 years… This also means many GPs have never heard of it - mine was convinced it was nothing serious and couldn’t possibly be cancer…
I’m also interested to know if you’ve been prescribed any anti-biotics as IBC doesn’t improve on them, we do have a sub-forum on here for IBC patients I’ll go and get you a link in a minute…
I think it would be a good idea to get a second opinion… hopefully it is something innocent but if not with IBC especially the sooner treatment starts the better…
Theresa x
Dear Mel, Theresa and Ann,
Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to me, i can´t tell you how much i appreciate it. I am definitley going to seek a second opinion as my gut feeling is that i should.
I haven´t been given any antibiotics but was prescribed cream by the spanish doc that i saw but i didnt´use it, i wanted to see if it went by itself. It´s been almost 4 weeks now and although they have faded slightly they are still there, as is the hot stabbing pains that come and go.
What is worrying me is just how rare IBC is and i had certainly never heard of it before now so i wonder if any doctors here where i am will have. My friend is a nurse and I asked her and even she hasn´t heard of it. When i told her about my marks when they fist appeared she said not to worry unless a lump appeared! I think most people just associate breast cancer with lumps!?
Thanks and hugs to you all xx
Lou - meant to say before - IBC doesn’t show up on mammograms but it does on ultrasound scans… (incase they just suggest a mammogram to put your mind at ease…) My tumour at diagnosis was 5.5cm and no sign on mammo - was obvious as soon as they started the ultrasound… They then did a fna (fine needle biopsy) and a core biopsy (small device that makes a clicking noise) They were able to look at cells from the fna there and then under the microscope and diagnose it as IBC as the cells look very different to anything else…
Theresa x
Hi Lou,
Like Theresa, I have had an IBC diagnosis. I should repeat first of all that it IS very rare and it is very unlikely that you have it. However, like any other cancer, the earlier it is diagnosed the better. You are obviously concerned and I would get a second opinion. Most GPs will not recognise it and I agree with Theresa you need to see a specialist in order to be sure.
I recognised my own symptoms from pictures on the internet. I was diagnosed by my GP as having mastitis (and now know that this is a common misdiagnosis) and when I googled mastitis got pictures of IBC which were identical to my symptoms. My GP had never heard of IBC either but she referred me to the local breast clinic. My Mammogram was clear but the surgeon I saw arranged an ultrasound and core biopsy which both showed a large tumour (even though there was no lump). Within 3 weeks of first noticing the redness and swelling, my breast was swollen to double the normal size and very hard.
Follow your gut instinct and if it turns out you are wrong it can only be good. Jan xx
Hi Louise
I thought you might find one of our factsheets a useful read and I’ve given the link below. It’s on the subject of IBC, you can either download it or place an order via the link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-breast-health/diagnosis/primary/inflammatory-breast-cancer/inflammatory-breast-cancer
Kind regards
Louise
Facilitator