Hi everybody,
I have been reading some messages, especially any messages related IBC. I am 25, a breastfeeding mom, my son will be 4 months old by tomorrow. I had this rash/bruise on my left breast for a while( 2 months). At beginning I didn’t pay any attention, since my breasts changed so much. 1 month ago I really took a good look at it, it got me worried, since all the research I can find on google about this IBC. When to my GP on Oct 4th, the rash was 2.5cmx4cm. GP told me to come back in a month, she said it could be due to hormone change. I went back one week earlier cuz I noticed that it is getting bigger. I went to see her today, the rash is 3x4.5 now. GP refer me to breast center and dermatology. She said she would be surprised if I got cancer. I hope she is right. Tomorrow I will see the breast specialist, I hope they will look into it. Since I don’t have any lump present, what if they say it;s nothing and go see the dermatology - which the earliest appointment is Jan 18th, 08.
My question is what I can ask breast specialist to do, if they can’t find a lump. Can I insist that I want a ultrasound and a random breast biopsy?
Thank you all very much. May God grant you peace and strength.
Nico
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Nico - just had a thought - there is an American based support forum for ladies with ibc - being such a rare breast cancer, not much is known about it, and very few doctors have seen it. The ladies there are very knowledgeable. You can reach them at:
<script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%69%62%63%2d%72%65%71%75%65%73%74%40%69%62%63%73%75%70%70%6f%72%74%2e%6f%72%67%22%3e%69%62%63%2d%72%65%71%75%65%73%74%40%69%62%63%73%75%70%70%6f%72%74%2e%6f%72%67%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script> Might be clutching at straws but perhaps if you tell them your symptoms, they may be able to help.
Take care,
Liz.
thanks Mabel - thought I was being intrusive as I ONLY have idc 4 yrs ago …but some friends in the USA have had IBC and I have learned a lot from them. Apparently only some 1-4% of bc’s are IBC and not many breast cancer surgeons have even seen them. IBC is an isidious and very aggressive bc problem.
I got idc some 4 yrs ago and now have a very swollen right breast - the aureole and nipple have gone south, the breast is now hot, red and itchy, I asked my brilliant bc surgeon at last annual review if I had ibc (swollen breast and aureole, nipple nowhere to be seen) and he said it was not ibc. Advised me to go the local hospice for manual lymph drainage. Can’t help thinking that as I had a non palpable idc 2cm tumour at a normal 3 yrly mammo, that I have no idea as to how bc normally presents.
Gosh, this does feel like a crapshoot…I just want the facts and then I can deal with it.