Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Have I got breast cancer? Breast awareness, signs and symptoms
1

I’m cross-posting from the ‘Appointments and Test Results’ thread: forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Appointments-and-waiting-for/Perspective-needed/td-p/1217963

 

I have booked an appointment at a private one-stop breast clinic for Monday, because I couldn’t get an NHS appointment within the two week window - it came through AFTER I’d booked the private one, and wouldn’t be for another 11 days (though I saw my GP over a week ago). I just need to get through today and tomorrow. But I’m terrified that I might have IBC.

 

I went to the GP because I had on-off mild discomfort in my left breast for almost a year, and then a couple of months ago I noticed a patch of red marks, like little broken blood vessels, on the left underside of the same breast. The marks aren’t itchy or raised, and they’re quite light pinky-brown (as if they’re healing?) but they haven’t gone away. The nipple is normal. The breast isn’t swollen, as far as I can make out, but it’s always been bigger than the right one.

 

I keep checking my skin of signs of dimpling or orange peel, and I feel like I’m losing my mind. In some lights there’s nothing there and it’s all perfectly smooth. In others I feel like I can see very shallow dents. I don’t know if I’m seeing things.

 

I can’t think why else I would have red marks. Every instance of IBC I read about seems to have a slightly different onset, in terms of early symptoms - there doesn’t seem to be a set of definitive signs I can compare myself to. I can’t eat or sleep properly or focus, and I don’t know what to do over the next 48 hours.

2

Hi Buttons,

Honestly, IBC is one of the Least likely things it could be, there are more likely to be far common reasons for your symptoms.

If you have been, do step away from google, you wont find the answer & it will only feed your anxiety.

There’s nothing more you can do now, you’ve done everything you can to be seen promptly.

Although it’s so hard to do when anxious, just try to do something that you enjoy to try take to your mind off it.

It will be sorted out soon & you’ll get through the the next 48 hours, we all do when going through this.

The vast majority of ladies who come here anxious before an appointment, turn out Not to have bc, no matter what their symptoms are or what’s been found on google.

Let us know how you get on.

ann

3

Hi Buttons.
Nothing is going to change between now & your appointment, nothing you do is going to make any difference now, however, how you decide to react to this is down to you…so just…breathe.
IBC is the most unlikely outcome & IF on the rarest chance it is, then it will be sorted out.
Do take care
ann x

4

Relieved and delighted to report that I was given the all clear today. Physical exam plus ultrasound reported no suspicious areas, not even a cyst. The broken capillaries are not a sign of IBC, according to the very experienced breast surgeon and radiologist I saw.

5

I realise I’m extremely lucky, and I’m grateful to the people on this forum who responded to me. I’ll be making a donation to Breast Cancer Care because paying it forward is the least I can do.

6

I’m glad all is well.