Hi, I am worried about my left breast. Over the past four weeks it has become very swollen, a cup or so bigger than the right. It is also very painful with a dull ache and sharp stabbing pains when moving.
A small brown bruise like mark appeared around the same time as the pain. It is about 5mm big next to the areola and flat. The skin on it sometimes peels away. There is no lump underneath it.
The nipple has also changed into a more oval shape rather than round as before.
The breast does not feel hotter than the right most of the time and it is not red.
I am very concerned that it is inflammatory breast cancer as it seems to fit most of the symptoms.
I went to the doctor and he could not feel any lumps and the lymph nodes were not swollen. He is referring me to a specialist. Today though I can feel a small pea sized lump in my armpit and I’m worried that its connected.
Is there anything else it could be? I 23 and have no children and I’m not pregnant or on any type of contraceptive.
I am really really worried about this, can’t stop thinking about what it could be.
Just hoping someone on here has been through the same symptoms or thinks it could be something else.
Thank you for reading
Hi, I’m not in the same situation as you, but I know how difficult things are when you’re waiting and worrying. Other people will be in touch, who know much more than I do, I’m sure. This is just to say that I’m thinking of you and sending good thoughts. You’ll find that everyone on here is very helpful and kind. It’s a bit late for this weekend, but you could try ringing the helpline on Monday? Keep us updated.
Peggyx
Hi, I have IBC, your symptoms are in some ways similar to how I was. I had no lump,there is often no lump with IBC.Swollen breast etc… Did your GP give you a course of anti biotics, as sometimes it can be a simple infection called Mastitis. Your right to seek advise and they will do the usual tests to see what is happening , It sounds like you may have injured yourself recently ? My sister had a similar scare and she was in the clear ,I hope you soon get some answers and that it all turns out well for you.If you need to talk further please Pm me.
Jean
Hi, I have been diagnosed with IBC last Nov and my breast was swollen, little stabbing pain and I couldn’t feel a lump, neither could the GP I saw the very next day of me noticing these changes to my left breast. The only other symptom was a very hard breast allround. I understand your worry very much and it’s best to see a specialist like you’re going to do soon. Even if IBC should be confirmed, treatment will start straight away and it is very effective generally. I never heard of IBC before, only read on here about it but the more I know about it, the less scary it gets to be honest.
I hope all goes well, we’re all here for you holding hands in case you need us. Please let us know how you get on.
3N3 xx
Hi Wilk1 and welcome to the BCC forums
I am sorry to read that you have this worry right now, our helpliners are here to offer you further support and information on 0808 800 6000, the lines are open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 10-2
Whilst you await your appointment you may find the BCC ‘Worried’ information page useful to read, here you will find a publication about what you can expect to happen at your appointment, you can access the page here:
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/worried
Best wishes
Lucy
I’m so sorry tp hear you are so worried but you have done exactly the right thing in going to your GP and getting referred straight away. Many women wait because they think it’s something trivial and many GPs don’t have the expertise to recognise IBC as it is so rare. I was diagnosed in March and am already halfway through my chemotherapy so, if you ARE dignosed with this illness - and it could well be something else - then they will commence treatment straight away. Try not to read too much on the internet, tempting though it is. I looked at reputable British sites like this one and Macmillan and found them helpful but until someone tells you what is wrong with you, you may be frightening yourself unnecessarily.
Try to enjoy your weekend and let us know how things go with you.
Wilk1
I think you should get your self a breast examination for better understanding regarding the issue that you are into. We would like to hear fro you keep us posted. Have a nice day
Thank you so much for the support so far.
The pain in my breast has actually gone down a lot and the swelling
is now really just in the underside of my breast but it hasn’t gone
altogether.
That horrible mark, more purple really is still there, it bothers me
more than anything else. Its the thing that makes me think its
imflammatory breast cancer.
The doctor didn’t put me on any antibiotics.
My appointment at the hospital is this Monday and I am
so scared about what they will say. I haven’t slept properly for
weeks now, just constantly worried about whats going to happen.
I don’t know how people cope with this, its horrendous.
It’s a really steep learning curve, isn’t it? But we’re all either going through it, or we’ve been through it, ourselves. Remember, you really aren’t alone here. We may not always be able to reply straight away, but you will get a reply. Please let us know how things go, tomorrow. Will be thinking of you.
Px
Thinking of you tomorrow, one way or another you will get an answer and treatment as neccessary ,good luck XX
Hi, thank you for the support again:-)
I went to the hospital today. He checked my breast
and they did an ultrasound and it was all clear.
He said the purple mark is nothing to worry about
and that it cannot be anything serious as the pain
has gone.
I feel happy at the result but I can’t help but be a
little worried as he can’t tell me why the breast has
swollen, he thinks it may just be hormonal because of
my age and he can’t tell me what the purple thing is,
he said probably infection.
He discharged me from the hospital.
I don’t know whether to just accept what he says or go
back to my doctor and try and push for an answer on
why my breast is swollen and what this mark is.
Hi so glad you have a good result from your ultrasound, I think you can be fairly sure the results are reliable so try not to worry any more.
jean
Having read your journey above, I too was like you, worried that something had been missed. My story is long and tedious and to get to a better place, I had to do a bit of self help thinking. My treatment, which was not acceptable, is now with PALS, and it is a very long story, so I will not bore you.
But, I did do a few things, to get me to the point of where I am now. I took a step back when I was not happy with what had happened at clinic. I then monitored my affected breast for a couple of months. I know what is cyclical and I know what isn’t. I then went back to the consultant, both of them, and the radiologist, as all three were involved with me and all three gave me difterent opinions armed with an arsenal of my findings, that things were not right, not because I was being paranoid, or over reacting, but because I owed it to myself to find out what was going on. I took a step back, monitored myself, called the helpline here, and then went back to my GP who kicked into action and re-referred me back to a different consultant.
So if, you’re not happy, then take a step back and monitor what you’re worried about, give it a couple of months, then go back if the mark is still there and the swelling.