Scared it might be inflammatory breast cancer

[WorriedAboutMyBoob]

Hi, I’m just hoping there might be someone here who can talk to me about their experience of having or not having a diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer. I have a short history of a swollen breast with a large red area. My areola on that side seems to have become larger/stretched also. I’ve no temperature or other signs of something like mastitis. I’m early 50s and quite worried it might be IBC. Any information would be appreciated, thank you. My GP has referred me to the breast clinic, but I’d like to go in with as much info as possible. I understand that a mammogram isn’t always great for picking up this type of issue. It would be great to know if there are things I should be asking about when I’m at the clinic, thanks. I’ve name changed for this, sorry.

PS. Apologies for the boob photo!

@WorriedAboutMyBoob Morning. Just popped in to see how you are doing - emotionally as well as physically? I know it can be scary when people are pushing you to get something looked at - especially when you've had the temporary relief of a GP not showing concern - I've been there. And hopefully, it's nothing. But there is a chance that it is something that can be fast moving and aggressive. Please get it looked at because we are now worried about your boob! Good luck and please do post for support if you need to.

OP how are you? Really hope it's positive news xx

Hello OP just popping by to see how you are. I really hope everything is ok x

Hi everyone, I’m really sorry it took me so long to come back with an update. Life just got even more crazy and is only now really settling down.

By the time I got my next appt through the redness had decreased significantly. I had also got a very odd splotchy rash on my palms. They were confident that the breast was not anything sinister. Anyway, by early September I had the biggest flare up of my crohns ever, and ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks on high dose steroids etc. The working theory is that the skin things were an early sign that I was in a flare, and it took a little while for my guts to get bad enough for me to realise that it was my crohns. I’d been having some stomach issues, but was just putting it down to stress and a less than perfect diet with all the running around.

I just wanted to update in case anyone sees this and wonders what happened.

Thank you all again so much for all your support and advice. It was really invaluable. Thank you.

That's great news. What a relief.

Really concerned about a blemish that has appeared on my right boob. At first it was a completely red round ring and paler in the centre it measures 1 1/2 cms in circumference. It’s really flat maybe a tiny bit of scaly but hardly at all, not itch, no pain. Dr examined both breasts thoroughly but can find nothing wrong. She is puzzled with it. She took pictures of it has sent them to the breast clinic and said they will get in touch if they want to see me. She gave me a steroid cream which has an antibiotic and anti fungal in it, I have used it for a full 6 days so far but used a steroid cream first a few days before that so about 9 days of treatment but has made no difference it is maybe lighter in colour but other days it just looks the exact same but no change in size or shape. When I first saw it I showed my husband and both thought it was a bite but then we thought it looked like ringworm with having the red ring around it so when I said that to dr she said thats what it reminds me of as well. If it was for some strange reason I thought the anti fungal cream would have help but nothing is help. Had this for about 12 days now. Sorry for picture, you may see some cream on the normal skin.

@Freyagillian you'll get a better response by starting your own thread. People won't necessarily come back to this one now that the OP has updated a solution.

Hope it all turns out to be ok though

How do I start a new thread, can this be moved to a new thread. Thank you.

Just go to the top of the page and click start new thread and away you go.

@Freyagillianlook up granuloma annulare. Looks just like that to me, if so it's harmless. You could ask your GP if they agree. I had it on my feet and it looked like that. Not itchy or sore just cosmetic.

Thank you for replying. I had thought about that too. Just never expected on my breast. How did you manage to treat it if I may ask.

I didn't, it can't be treated as its autoimmune. The doc did prescribe steroid cream but that didn't work. I had it a couple of years and it disappeared when I fell pregnant. Has come back mildly a couple of times but never as red/raised and long lasting as the original flare.

Obviously it's good you've seen the GP anyway and definitely follow up any advice from the breast clinic/dermatology - I just googled granuloma annulare on breast and as per typical Dr Google it said there might be a link with breast cancer so definitely push for a referral to the breast clinic if it doesn't clear up. But hopefully it's nothing to worry about.

Thank you for replying. I seen my own dr again today, she thinks it is a Seborrhoea Keratosis but she had word from the breast clinic and they are going to see me, waiting time gone from a 2 week window to a 4 week now🤷‍♀️ They put it through as urgent but I think that is normal when it is anything on the breast.xx