2WW for breast clinic referral - anyone care to join me?

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Referred to breast clinic yesterday after finally acknowledging I wasn't imagining the indent on my left boob. Normally I'm very sanguine and unflappy but this has me completely distracted and tearful. I've banned myself from Google (easy now as I've read everything ever published about breast indents over the last 24 hours) but have no idea how I'm going to avoid going bonkers while I wait. I don't want to talk about it IRL till I know if there's anything to talk about, but think I need an outlet. Anyone else in the same boat?

Hope you’ve calmed down today? I think we’re just going out for a walk somewhere today, not sure where though yet. Do you have any plans today? X

When I had my first lump I was 37 and they didn't mammogram, just US Emily so probably the same for you and that will mean less waiting around hopefully.
The thing I've learnt about worry is that it changes nothing about the outcome unless you do nothing about your worry. you two have done everything that you can. Now all you can do is leave no space in your head for worry. you have to get really busy, start a project, decorating, diy or anything that consumes you, tires you. Looking after children or volunteering . I found I was fine at work(in a school) as chn live in the moment. Leisure time to think is your enemy right now. I know it's easier said than done.

It's so easy for me to say this now I know. I do remember that I barely ate the first week and needed to be near the toilet as that's how my body reacts to anxiety. The second week I reached a calmer state of acceptance and started to eat more. It wasn't a conscious change , I think I just couldn't worry anymore, it was exhausting.

A bit thanks Vi37 :) I hope you have a lovely walk, it might help to talk to your DP about everything apart from the appointment on the walk to take your mind off it for a bit.

Thank you so much Caralamb, it's helping so much to hear from you! You are so right about keeping busy- I'm going to go for a run in a bit and might bake some bread.

Sorry you felt so ill the first week, I was the same. I am eating now but I'm scared to eat anything with sugar in it and I'm trying to eat lots of veg, drink green tea and take curcumin supplements for anti-cancer properties.

Yes that makes sense about the ultrasound. I guess they'll just follow up with a biopsy if needed. One thing that I'm very concerned about is that I have what looks like 'Peau d'orange' and I cannot find a benign explanation for it online.

Also my neck looks double its normal width with swollen lymph nodes and both breasts are affected by peau d'orange, blurred areola margins and red marks. I almost feel as though it's far more likely to be cancer than not but I could still be wrong!

I think I need to plan to do something on Thursday (the day after my appointment) so that if it's bad news I have something else to focus on.

xx

Any symmetrical changes, i.e both breasts would be an indicator that it is something else other than cancer. If you had those marks on any other area of your body, would you be at all concerned? Skin has so many variables, pimples, rough patches but we can tend to obsess when it affects pour breasts. Did your GP say your gland were enlarged? From what I understand the glands immediately associated with breast cancer would be under arm and I don't think on both sides, just the affected side. Hope that is if comfort.

Sorry for typos.

Also stop prodding and poking. I made my breast sore from constantly checking and that could case swelling.

Thanks Cambalamb- sorry I think I wrote 'Caralamb' before!

I've read that IBC it spreads very quickly so that it can be found in both breasts (or lungs/liver) at diagnosis BUT it would be so brilliant if it's not that!

IBC is extrememely rare, less than 1% of all BC and at your age of 30, even more so I would think.

extremely!

Cambalamb- thank you! fingers crossed I don't have it. Apparently it does seem to happen more in younger people. Do you know if there are any non-cancerous/benign causes of peau d'orange?

Also , you mentioned upthread you'd been a bit phlegmy, chesty. Those symptoms that are very common right now with colds and coughs doing the rounds and are far more likely to be the cause of swollen neck glands.

Also I have weird vascular congestion/purpley redness and I cannot find a non-cancerous cause of that either!

Thanks- yes my chest symptoms could just be something else- I'm just usually incredibly healthy and don't really catch infections and my chest and throat symptoms have been going on for over a month.

Has your GP said you have vascular congestion or have you decided that you have that?

Average age for IBC is early 50s.

The GP said I had it on the right side- it looks a bit like a dark purple circle under someones eye- it's not superficial.

I also have blurred areola margins so that it's difficult to see where the areola ends and the skin begins and the skin is a different colour with enlarged pores resembling peau d'orange on the underside of each breast.

Thanks for the reassurance and help though- I so hope it's nothing.

I'm not sure about peak de orange but it could just be your perception. Open pores? Don't want to sounds as though I am dismissing your thoughts , just trying to help you see that it's more likely to be something innocent. someone upthread thought they had an indent, it was just normal.

Your GP is doing the right thing but please don't take the fact that he has referred you as a sign he thinks you have IBC. It's a protocol they have to follow.

Have you injured your breast in the past? Does it itch? Is it hot? Could be an infection or skin condition.

Thanks Cambalamb! I hadn't been to the GP for four years before my appointment two weeks ago and I saw a GP who is apparently normally really difficult with people but he was very kind and referred me without even providing an alternative option (e.g. lots of people with IBC-like symptoms get sent away with antibiotics or antifungal cream at first).

It would be so great if it was nothing!

The pores under my bust are definitely enlarged and I'm not sure of any other cause of my range of symptoms BUT there might well be!

I haven't injured my breasts. They have been itchy on the nipple at points which can also be an IBC symptom.

I think some of the symptoms could be due to skin infection but the redness/vascular congestion on my right breast is definitely under the skin and not a skin condition. It could of course be a benign thing caused by something like stretching of the skin and veins in that area but with the other symptoms it seems less likely.

Open pores are open pores, there doesn't have to be a reason like IBC. Hormones, pregnancy, weight gain and just monthly changes cause skin changes. Have you seen this thread?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3084294-Peau-d-orange-skin-on-both-breasts-Cancer?pg=2

Thanks Cambalamb :) I've not been pregnant yet and this has been going on for a while now but fingers crossed it's something hormone/weight related (I did put on weight in the last couple of years).