Ok so I am crapping myself a bit here :( Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

[AngryFeet]

So last night I was lying on my side and noticed my right breast felt tender. I did a self exam and noticed nothing except a tiny bit of swelling thickening just above the nipple (so slight I couldn't tell if I was imagining it or not). An hour or so later I looked and realised there was a pink patch about the size of a 50p which is just above the areola (close enough to meet the areola). Looked again when I woke this morning and it is still there, slightly swollen and warm but no longer sore .

All I can find on google is Inflammatory Breast Cancer. So now I am crapping myself. Do I go to the GP now or wait a couple of days and see what happens?

Do go to the GP, get it checked. Don't panic - you can get all kinds of infections, cysts, mastitis (even if not breastfeeding).

We just moved and the bloody GP has a 2 week wait for appts unless you call to get an emergency appt in the morning. Should I do that?

Yes phone, say you're worried it's cancer that'll get you an emergency appointment. Seriously though try not to panic. Most people who go to the GP find that they're fine. Even if you get referred to the Breast Clinic at hospital, 9 out of 10 referrals are benign. Call the GP though. You need peace of mind.

Ok I will do. Funnily enough I was at the Breast Clinic only 2 months ago due to a sebaceous cyst on my other nipple. God I am bricking it

Don't worry - there are loads of things that look like inflammatory breast cancer. Get an emergency appointment, and you will be seen at a breast clinic within two weeks.

What else could it be? On closer inspection it spreads down the side of the breast too but far paler there. I am freaking out a bit. Not breastfed for 5 years and not feeling ill so cant be mastitis.

Are you sure it's not a fungal skin infection? That can produce pink shiny skin. Hope you can be seen by your GP very quickly and it puts your mind at rest.

Well dd has a fungal/bacterial skin infection at the moment. Didnt start like this though but I have been touching it a lot to check/put cream on. Hers is crusty and raw but mine is just pink and shiny as you say. Not sure they are infectious from contact? Will check with gp and let you know how I get on. Thanks :)

I would guess either fungal infection (common on boobs, as they live in warm dark places ) or eczema, which is also common on boobs.

IBC is very very rare. I know one person (distantly) who had it, and I am of an age where I know people who've had most things! But of course, you are right to get it checked out.

I also understand the googling, and the anxiety - I had a bedbug bite from a holiday villa stay once, and weeks later I had the whole red itchy reaction thing and was convinced. Utterly convinced. But it was a delayed allergic reaction to old bite.

Good luck, and hope you're reassured soon!

Thanks Elibean. One of my biggest issues is that I have health anxiety anyway so immediately think of the worst case scenario. I have had a LOT of therapy for it but when something like this comes up I go back to the dark place. I am pretty much planning my funeral already :(

My mum died of IBC but it's incredibly rare. She was a lot older than you and had already had standard breast cancer once before. It's very unlikely to be IBC.