IBC=Inflammatory Breast Cancer
I haven't been on this site for quite a while now. In fact, I believe I've had 2 bouts with cancer since my last login.
Earlier this year, I was in a car accident. I was going to therapy, experiencing neck pain, shoulder blade and right arm discomfort and pain.
A few months ago I noticed my right nipple was inverted. It looked like a turtle's nose barely visible in its shell. The skin on my breast became a healthy looking blush, then pink. My stretch marks which once were like shallow canals radiating from my areola became like raised veins. It is described as orange peel.
I had received an email from my daughter earlier that described Inflammatory Breast Cancer. My symptoms sounded exactly what was described.
I went to my oncologist who examined me and said it looked like mastitis or cellulitis and put me on an antibiotic with an appointment for 2 weeks later. (Classic doctor reaction according to IBC)
I went for a mammogram and an ultrasound--neither detected anything but denseness of the breast, even when compared to my previous mammograms!
After 3 days I saw no change in my breast, so I called my surgeon and immediately went to him. He noted the symptoms and did a surgical biopsy 2 days later. It confirmed infiltrating lobular carcinoma. There was a 5.5cm tumor. The skin was cancerous. Ten days later I had a mastectomy. The surgeon still wouldn't call it IBC, and still hasn't. 27 of 27 lymph nodes were cancerous. There was a 6.5cm tumor which was cancerous.
My oncologist called me and told me I was right. I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Stage IIIc.
Ladies, this is a very fast growing and deadly cancer.
I've had an MRI and PET scan. Now I am having chemo and will have radiation, and of course more scans.
READ UP ON INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER FOR YOURSELF.
If I hadn't spoken up, I could be a lot worse off than I am now.
God bless you all.
Dixie
Earlier this year, I was in a car accident. I was going to therapy, experiencing neck pain, shoulder blade and right arm discomfort and pain.
A few months ago I noticed my right nipple was inverted. It looked like a turtle's nose barely visible in its shell. The skin on my breast became a healthy looking blush, then pink. My stretch marks which once were like shallow canals radiating from my areola became like raised veins. It is described as orange peel.
I had received an email from my daughter earlier that described Inflammatory Breast Cancer. My symptoms sounded exactly what was described.
I went to my oncologist who examined me and said it looked like mastitis or cellulitis and put me on an antibiotic with an appointment for 2 weeks later. (Classic doctor reaction according to IBC)
I went for a mammogram and an ultrasound--neither detected anything but denseness of the breast, even when compared to my previous mammograms!
After 3 days I saw no change in my breast, so I called my surgeon and immediately went to him. He noted the symptoms and did a surgical biopsy 2 days later. It confirmed infiltrating lobular carcinoma. There was a 5.5cm tumor. The skin was cancerous. Ten days later I had a mastectomy. The surgeon still wouldn't call it IBC, and still hasn't. 27 of 27 lymph nodes were cancerous. There was a 6.5cm tumor which was cancerous.
My oncologist called me and told me I was right. I had Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Stage IIIc.
Ladies, this is a very fast growing and deadly cancer.
I've had an MRI and PET scan. Now I am having chemo and will have radiation, and of course more scans.
READ UP ON INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER FOR YOURSELF.
If I hadn't spoken up, I could be a lot worse off than I am now.
God bless you all.
Dixie
Hi,
Most patients are told their redness, inflammation etc is from an infection.
It is one thing to try antibiotics while you get scans done, and a biopsy...
but there are many women who never heard of IBC and stay on antibiotics for months and months while their cancer has the time to spread all over...
because the person with the IBC and in too many cases the Doctor has no idea to look for breast cancer!!!
MD Anderson has the only IBC specific treatment center in the country.
Check out IBCsupport.org
Bernadette
Most patients are told their redness, inflammation etc is from an infection.
It is one thing to try antibiotics while you get scans done, and a biopsy...
but there are many women who never heard of IBC and stay on antibiotics for months and months while their cancer has the time to spread all over...
because the person with the IBC and in too many cases the Doctor has no idea to look for breast cancer!!!
MD Anderson has the only IBC specific treatment center in the country.
Check out IBCsupport.org
Bernadette
I had Inflamatory breast cancer - Invasive Ductal Carcinoma - stage 3. I had a mastectomy, cheom and radiation and 22 lymph nodes removed. Many good doctor will recognize the symptoms. My doctor took one look and knew it was cancer. I'm now a one+ year survivor and just had WLS. Down 44 lbs since December 4th. Life is good!
Don't forget your yearly mammograms in 2009!
Don't forget your yearly mammograms in 2009!
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