Ok it's October, so here I go!!!
Did you know you don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer????????
I didn't and I scheduled breast biopsy's and mastectomies for years and years and still didn't know this cancer existed. Let me tell you my story.
In late January 04 I awoke and like every day got ready for my shower. I notice a pink spot on my breast, about the size of a stick of gum and just as pink. When I saw it I thought I slept 'funny'. This pinkness happened for 3 days in a row, then nothing, 2 days later my nipple turned purple.....like a bruise (that never went away). I also felt some thickning on my breast, so I went to my Gyn. She could see the brusing but could not feel the thickning. She told me to get a mammo. I had a lot going on in my life at that time and it took me a few weeks (6) to make the appt. for my mammo.
By the time I had my mammo my breast was now pink, itchy, hot and about a cup size larger. It seemed that my whole breast was infected. And a small 'spot' on the side of my nipple appeared, it looked like my nipple had leaked.
I had other issues (a rash on my hands, "they" say it was not connected) so I went to a dermataologist, ultimately they bisopsied the spot on the side of my nipple and it came back as metastatic cancer (because it was the skin, not breast tissue, the cancer had grown to the skin, not uncommon for IBC). And my life changed forever.
Inflammatory breast cancer is one of the rarest breast cancer, only 1-4% of all breast cancers are IBC, when I was diagnosed I was given a 30% chance of survival (I believe it is now up to 40%). "Regular" breast cancer has a survival rate of 97%, if caught early.
Please go to the IBC site (in my sig), read up on this cancer.....know your body. Don't just look for lumps, look for changes and insist that they listen to you. This is your body and your life.
Thanks for "listening",
Edie
Please ask any and all questions....I'm here for anyone.
You don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer!
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
www.ibcresearch.org
Thanks for posting this
And I am glad you are a survivor.
"When we stop running away from the situation that is scary - that is the moment we discover how strong we really are. So, acknowledge your strength...rejoice in it...and start breathing in life, as the beautiful, strong soul (being) that you truly are." - Rachna Sirtaj.......Love & Peace
My Recipe Index is packed full of yumminess!
Visit my blog: Journey to a Healthier Me ...or my Website
The scale can measure the weight of my body but never my worth as a woman. ~Lysa TerKeurst author of Made to Crave
Thank you, Edie, for sharing your story with us. I am with the others who have never heard of this kind of breast cancer. Thank you for gettig the word out for us ladies!!
My grandmother had breast cancer, so I am a bit worried about it. I will watch more closely too.
I am glad you have survived it, also. You are such a sweetie and I am sure you have shed so much joy in OH!!!
God Bless,
Highest weight: 309 pounds ~ October, 2009
PATS ~ Monday, February 22, 2010
RNY ~ Wednesday, March 3, 2010 ~ weight morning of surgery: 279 pounds
7 Months out to the date ~ Total loss of 100 pounds!! October 3, 2010: 179 pounds
February 1, 2011 ~ weigh 146 pounds
Please pass this info. on.
Edie
You don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer!
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
www.ibcresearch.org
"When we stop running away from the situation that is scary - that is the moment we discover how strong we really are. So, acknowledge your strength...rejoice in it...and start breathing in life, as the beautiful, strong soul (being) that you truly are." - Rachna Sirtaj.......Love & Peace
