I need some advice really, i’ve got myself into a state.
A couple of days ago one of my breasts started to feel heavy.
It wasn’t until it started swelling the next day & became extremilly hot & painful, that i finally went to the doctor assuming i had an infection.
To my horror she told me i had a large lump & was going to arrange a scan & ‘needle’.
She didn’t believe it was an infection, but said it could be Breast Cancer or a cyst.
(I hadn’t checked myself for a long time as my son has been ill & everything else has taken a back seat)
Does this sound like inflammatory Breast Cancer?
Does the inflammation go down?, as my breast is still swollen & painful, but not as swollen or as hot as it was before.
Sorry to hear you are going through this. I didn’t check myself either, hardly any women do so you are not alone, anyway the current view is that you need to be breast aware rather than carry out breast self exam. You noticed changes which came on very quickly and you went to the doctor as soon as possible. You’ve done the right thing. Inflammatory breast cancer doesn’t always involve a lump at all, but you don’t know that it is inflammatory breast cancer anyway, although it is a possibility. It could also be an infection or a cyst.
Until you have all the tests you won’t know. It’s easier to deal with once you know what you have. Inflammatory breast cancer is a serious form of breast cancer but treatments are better than they were.
Please do call the helpline if you feel it would help to talk your concerns through with someone in confidence, the line is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm on 0808 800 6000.
Unfortunately IBC does mimic infections such as mastitis but it sounds as though your doctor has been really on the ball and referred you very quickly for the best test to determine what is going on.
You say that the swelling has already gone down a little. Did your doctor prescribe antibiotics?
IBC does not respond to antibiotics, so there is a good chance that you have an infection if that is the case.
I’m with Jackie on this one, and was diagnosed with IBC in Feb 2008
Try not to double guess what might be going on, despite that being so very hard. My breast just kept getting bigger & hotter & harder, but not everyone is the same.
Hopefully you’ll get your biopsy & results soon, and either way you’ll know what you’re dealing with.
I asked to see another doctor today, who also doesn’t think it’s an infection.
I’ve asked to be placed on antibiotics just incase, but i think they are being very cautious given my family history.
The swelling has remained the same, no worse & no more painful.
My Lymph nodes under my arm are also swollen, but not at all painful, so hopefully it’s an infection or a cyst.
I should hear about my scan & biopsy soon, so i have my fingers crossed that all will be ok.
Thank you again for all your advice, i have lost a few family members to this condition, so there was no-one i could ask.
you didnt mention family history in your first post, I can see why you must be extra worried now. You have still done the right thing, I hope it’s not breast cancer but if it is, you need treatment to start as quickly as it can. Whatever the outcome all of us will be there to listen to you and give all support we can.
I’m glad you’ve had a second opinion, the antibiotics won’t do any harm in any case.
Please do push for an urgent biopsy, if you haven’t got an appointment ring and chase it up. I’m thinking of you and am happy to answer any questions if I can.
So far it’s been 5 days since i started the antibiotics & they havn’t helped at all.
I rang the hospital on thursday & to my horror, they said they hadn’t recieved the referal from my GP.
My GP had sent it by fax the same day she saw me, she’d sent it as urgent so i had to go back & get her to chase it up!
I got a call the next day & i have my scan & biopsy done this thursday.
I dont have any kind of Breast Cancer, but recently i have been having really sore pains in my breast, and they feel hot to touch but not too hot, i have also been dignosed with having mastitis on 3 occassions but it keeps on coming back every so often, i have also had a few boile like things on my breast as well.
I dont know what to, im lost and im frightened to go to the doctors, im only 29 with 2 beauitful girls, I lost my own mum to lung cancer which spread to her breast and other parts of her body 5 years ago, I know that it would be selfish of me not to go and see the doctor, but im so scared.
can someone give me advice please?
Hi claire,please,please go and see your doctor,chances are that it is mastitis.I know its really scary, but you need to get it sorted for your own peace of mind.The longer you leave it the more worried you will become.I too lost my mum to breast cancer, and when I first found there was something not right with my breast I wanted to ignore it thinking maybe it would go away.but knew deep down that ignoring it would only make it worse.
Chances are honey that as you’ve had recurring mastitis in the past you have some kind of infection in your breast again. However, the only way to be sure is to go and get checked out. I know it’s scary but a course of antibiotics could have you feeling comfortable and pain free very soon.
Please make an appointment and come back and let us know how you get on,
Good Luck
Jackie x
Well i have to say firstly THANK YOU all for the very good advice you gave to me.
I went to the doctor and he thinks it might be an infection, so he gave me some antibiotics and pain killers…
He then looked at my records and noticed i had suffered mastitis and had a family history…
I have been booked in for a screen test for asap and also a biopsy asap…
So I’m in tomorrow Wednesday!!!
Ill keep you posted on how i get on.