Hello all! New to this fourm and what an amazing place for people to come to dealing with the atrocities of this horrific diagnosis. I have a question for the nurses. (Or anyone with similarities!)
My mother is 62, She is very healthy, takes meds only for high blood pressure and chlosterol. Walks daily and is very active. Gets a regular Mammo every year and just had one in March. Posting in the lull period of waiting for results on breast punch biopsy and the needle one. (cant remember its name) But I’m going to give a backstory:
My mother has had an inflammed breast for 3 weeks. Red, hot, hard, and swollen. (did not have the ripples/dots, or orange peel look that ive seen in IBC photos.
On week 3, her doctor decided to prescribe her Amoxicillin. She took it for 4 days with no improvement. He then told her to go to the ER to get IV antibiotics. The ER admitted her so they could look into it. (Her PCP thought it was Mastitis Bursitis/celliutus which can mimic IBC - yes I have done countless hours of research lol)
She spent 4 nights in the hospital where they gave her a CT scan, Mammogram, Ultrasound, and took bloodwork. The CT Scan showed up with no abnormalities and the mammogram and ultrasound were also a bit hard to read, as her breast was so inflammed. She says she already has fiborous breasts as it is, so that was a bit of a let down for her to know they couldnt see anything due to inflammation. Her white blood cell count the first night was at a 11. After having 2 type of antibiotics (an iv drip and a push) interveniously (every 12 hours) - her WBC count came down to a 9 in 2days. From all my googling, I’m under the impression that with IBC, this would not show response as cancer is not an “infection” and there would be 0 improvement. After being released from the hospital on Friday, they told her to meet with a breast specialist PA Tuesday and she will be coming in outpatient for 4 weeks to get the same intervenous IV full of antibiotics.
I personally think her breast looks 50% better since having been in the hospital. It is not nearly as hard and it is way less red but still swollen. The doctor said that breast tissue is super hard and slow to get rid of infection since it is so dense.
We went to the breast specialist appointment Tuesday, where they gave her a breast punch biopsy and needle biopsy. (cant remember the exact name of it) The specialist wrote in her notes that patient only had erythema and hot breast. she marked none for dimples, ripples, peu de orange, or cysts/masses.
Anyways, I guess what I’m looking for is anyone who has dealt with IBC or mastitis bursitis. (since its so “rare”) The Infectious disease Doctor said that it is a rare case in either case (since IBC presents in younger women typically), but in his professional opinion thinks it is just an infection. My poor mother is distraught and I completely understand and wish I could simply take her place. But any kind of perspective from a nurse who has experience would be greatly appreciated!!