Cyst/Abcess ?

Hey everyone, well have a dilema here. A few weeks ago I had a really bad abcess on my breast that flared up out of no where! It was right on the arreola part of my breast and spread out a little over it. It was huge the size of a silver dollar if not a little bigger. Went to my pcp and she said it looked like cellulitus. Prescribed me some antibiotics "bactrum" I believe is what it was. Anywho the abcess turned into a puss filled blister and actually started to leak the gunk inside. My pcp took a look at it and referred me to a breast specialist. Specially since I had no previous infections or symptoms. I went to specialist and the specialist order a mamo and ultra sound on my left breast which is the side its on of course. Anyhow I went to my appt. and did mamo on both breasts and then ultra sound tech did ultrasound on left breast only. She then took mamo and ultra sound to dr. to look at. Awhile later she comes in and says needs a comparison of other breast. I knew something was up cause she went to one spot and that spot only. She took a few more pics and 10 min later she was back with dr. Dr then proceeded to tell me I have a benign cyst in my right breast. Now this is not the one with the abcess. And that the breast with the abcess is just a skin infection under the skin and to keep taking antibiotics to clear up the infection. She said it would take anywhere from 6 mths to a yr to clear up and may have reocurrances. Now my question is how is she positive they are both benign without a biopsy. Now the reason why I ask is I have heard of inflammatory breast cancer. IBC which is an aggressive/rare cancer. All of the symptoms that are linked to IBC I had. Its a cancer that is an infection under the skin. So it starts that way. Now I'm not saying that is what I have because my infection has cleared up a little I still have some infection per the dr. and wanted me to start or keep taking my antibiotics. I had taken my antibiotics for two whole weeks and still have maybe about a dime sized lump in my breast with a little bit of a bloody discharge from time to time from the affected area. Radioligist said I didn't need to do anything at this point but I feel very torn about this matter. I have my follow up with specialist on tues and feel that I need to have both the cyst and abcess biopsied just for my piece of mind. I had issues with my paps and had a total hysterectomy and just feel a litte more overwelmed in this matter. But don't want to let it go and then have something to regret later. Has anyone out there gone through something like this or know of someone who did and how they handled it.  It just seems like this a little too much for me and I'm afraid that the specialist will not want to do biobsy and I don't know if I could hear that. I've never taken no before but this is totally different. Please help me

Sorry that you are going through all of this. I'm not sure what to think about the cyst, but as far as the abcess with the leaky gunk, my daughter used to get sores like that all the time. They started like a zit, got huge and so sore, and once I tried to pop one and green and bloody ooze came out. I took her to the dr immediately and she had to take antibiotics for a really long time. Then they started giving her anti-bacterial cream we had to use 2 times a day. Finally after a year, she quit getting them. I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but when I read your post, that's what immediately popped in my head.

Thanks, any and all information is valuable to me. My abcess actually started under the skin it didn't errupt into the blister till about a week later. It was very swollen, red, hot and tender to the touch. The arreola part look like orange peel and there was a huge lump under the skin the size of a silver dollar. Like I said my pcp prescribed antibiotics right away and it went down to the size of a dime now but still have some infection. Radiologist said it would take a long time to clear up, and don't need to do anything at this time. My concern is just letting it go and then turning into something that could have been prevented. Thanks for giving me info on your experience.

Lizzy,
There is a lady that posts on the RNY board that had the inflammatory breast cancer.  It is in her signature line.  I can't remember her name.    She doesn't post all the time.

I think I would pretty much insist on the biopsy's if for nothing else so I could have peace of mind.

Let us know what you find out.  I'll be thinking about you.

Linda

I think its the post that I seen that informed me about inflammatory breast cancer. I was not even aware of it. I went to the cancer board and started to look at the posts and came across that one. So I looked it up and all the symptoms were exactly as mine. Its weird how things happen. I am going to insist on the biopsy. I think my specialist being a female and also having breast cancer a few years ago she'll understand and agree with my concern. I just don't understand how the radiologist could blow it off as nothing without a biopsy. She felt there was no reason for concern...:( go figure! Thanks and I will post as soon as I hear something. Have my follow up with specialist on Thurs. lets see what happens :)

Liz

 I wish I could be helpful beyond encouraging you to stick with your instincts.  If nothing else you can rest having settled that question.

Keep at it, and please keep us posted!

Thanks either way its nice to know there's people out there with a good heart....

liz

I had breast cancer that was misdiagnosed first as a benign cyst because i was very very young . Simply because of my age . I insisted on a biopsy just to make sure ... HEL- Lo .. I could have DIED .... or lost my breast ....

as it was i had to have a lumpectomy , radiation and years of chemotherapy . So I think U are ABSOLUTELY 100 and ten percent or better yet one THOUSAND percent right to INSIST on a test .

The fact is many of us chix on here with a tendency to weight gain may do that BECAUSE we have a little extra estrogen naturally ..which CAUSES breast cancer . Add to that the extra estrogen put out by each and every one of our excess fat cells ... thats a LOT of excess estrogen . Thats one of the main reasons overweight people are so cancer prone probably .

So dont let them categorize U according to age and "save" fifty bux on a test by risking Ur life . Insist on that tissue getting properly tested .

Ive always been one of those very vocal pain- in the ass patients that insits on really really good treatment . Probably why im still here being a PITA.

See that is exactly what I want to prevent. I have done so much to prevent any issues like this from happening to me. In Dec of last year I had a total hysterectomy due to abnormal cells, cysts, fibroids, pelvic pain. My Gyno of 13 yrs did not want to perform hysterectomy so I had to look for a second opinion.  I kept insisting with original to perform and would not budge well went to 2nd opinion. My mother had total hysterectomy about  6 yrs ago due to cervical cancer. And thats exactly where I was headed to if I would not have found my new gyno. Well on first visit explained situation and he totally agreed with my concerns. So a month later we did procedure and needless to say he was totally satisfied with our outcome. He told me that I would eventually have had major issues if I would not have pushed for the hysterectomy. I know what you mean by being your own advocate. I guess I'm just a little scared of the unknown. I could deal with the whole hysterectomy issue but with this I don't know I just have more fear in me. But I will be pushing for the biopsy on both the cyst and abcess. My specialist had a bout with breast cancer herself a few years ago so I'm hoping she'll be a trooper and agree. She also had a mastectomy and reconstruction. I hope she doesn't catagorize me like you said because of my age. Thanks for your experience I really appreciate it. Any and all info is good...:)

Your fears and concern are legit and INSIST they do a biopsy to rule out .
Be the advocate for you.
Healing thoughts going your way during this struggle.
I hope it is nothing but pain and discomfort are real and should not be ignored or dis-acknowleged.
Mikimi in Israel