dear friend

forgive my daft typing i am a learner . i was correctly told 10 yrs ago i had the big c. then 5months ago i was told like you that i had nothing to worry about when my mammogram showed two cists and even during the biopsy was told that they were 99% sure it was not the big c. and guess what . it was 2 cancerous tumors and i had to have a 2nd mastectomy.i too was completely gobsmacked!! Its not very nice losing both breasts is it. yet we are still here and fighting this awful disease. carry on being posotive and draw on any resource you have.this is easy to say but harder to do. take care my friend and we wish you all the best. from mammybugs xxx

Hi when i read what you had been through it was like reading about myself. May 2008 i went to my docs with 1 breast very red, sore, huge painful etc and was sent home with antibiotics for masitis. this went on for 2month till eventually they referred me. Aug 2008 i was diagnosed with inflamatary breast cancer. Had Ec chemo till nov then had a double mastectomy (having the other breast of was my choice to help prevent it coming back) and all nodes on the affected side removed. Lump was only 4mm but 8/9 nodes had cancer. I then went on and had 12 weeks of taxol and then followed with 3 weeks of radio. I was very tired after all the treatment but got on with my family life looking after my hubby and 3 kids. I really did think it was something i had won till i found a lump in my neck in oct 2009. After nagging eventually they scanned and did a biopsy and found the cancer was back. I have 4 specs on lungs and started exeloda chemo tabs immediately. Bone scan clear. I am still in shock and keep saying why me. On 3rd cycle now and after the 4th they will scan me to make sure it is working if so i will get another 4 cycles, then left in limbo till they grow back. I am going to fight this, i am not leaving my 3 children 3,6 and 9 with no mum. Hubby bin fantastic. would love you to keep in touch and stay positive and we can fight this horrible disease. justine x

I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer last October. At first my underarm was tender and the GP thought I might have nicked myself shaving.

However, my left breast turned bright red within a few weeks and I was given a course of antibiotics. I have to admit I was only on then for a week and when the syptoms had not cleared I was referred immediately to the breast clinic. Within the space of two hours my life was turned upside down as I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

I have just come through my 6th chemo session and about to have a masectomy. So far I am feeling OK but feel I was diagnosed quite quickly and started treatment as soon as possible. I feel lucky to have coem through the treatment with what I would perceive as not to bad side effects.

I do feel that more awareness should be given about other symptons which could be breast cancer. I assumed cancer meant finding a lump which I have since discovered is not always the case.

I like lastferry am trying to remain positive and beat this cancer. I feel I've got a lot more living to do.

Hi

My wife has had a very similar experience. In October 2009 she began to suffer from pains in her side, she went to our GP who diagnosed an intercostal muscle injury and told her to return if it did not improve. About six weeks later after intermittent bouts of pain she returned to the GP who prescribed a course of heavy duty anti inflammatory's and was told to return in two weeks if it had not cleared up. Exactly a week later she woke me up to show me her breast that had started to turn red and had gone hard at the front. We went to see a different GP at the practice that morning. The GP could feel a lump so she booked her an appointment with the Breast clinic. Nine days later the morning of the appointment my wife's breast had become more swollen and her nipple had inverted. We attended the clinic, the Professor looking at her mammogram results thought that she had some cysts, as soon as she took off her top he changed his mind. An ultrasound was done which indicated a thin long lump. Some core biopsies were taken and then we were ushered in to an office where we were told the bad news. The date was the 21st December, a date which shall always be seared into my mind.

Two weeks later (delayed a week because of Christmas and New year) we returned to the clinic to be told what type she had and what order the treatment would take place. We had already surmised by looking on the computer that she probably had IBC. This was confirmed along with the fact that some of her lymph nodes had cancer cells present which is part of the reason why chemo forms the first part of treatment along with her lump being 11.5 cm wide, with the need to reduce it in size before surgery. We were told that IBC only effects about 2% of breast cancer sufferers and the tumour being full of fluid often does not harden until it is quite big, as with my wife. She had checked her breasts only a week before.

She is about to undergo her 5th (of 6) cycle of TAC Chemo tomorrow and is doing well. Her tumour has reduced to 7 cm and because of this the oncologist has referred her back to the surgeon with a view to operate in late May. She is very positive and seems to be taking everything in her stride even to the extent of having her hair shaved off for charity. I am very proud of her

I realise this post is quite a few years old, but I too have gone to my doctors with the same symptoms as you and wondered how quickly your very large red painful breast appeared? Mine literally seemed to be hard and sore one morning, which 2 days later started turning red. Sent away with antibiotics for suspected abscess, redness continued to spread, hospitalised for 3 nights and put on iv antibiotics, given an ultrasound which showed no abscess present. Redness gone but still sore and hard. Sent home with another 14 days of 2 different antibiotics. 7 days later (Monday) had a follow up appointment at the breast clinic, did mammograms which showed inconsistencies between breasts, another ultrasound which showed nothing like last Monday, so decided to do biopsies, took 5 samples. Doctor said he thinks it looks like inflammation still from the infection, but as I have not had any trauma or injury, am not breastfeeding, pregnant, a smoker, diabetic or any of the other usual risk factors they said it’s unusual for a normally healthy 38 year old to get mastitis to start with. Now waiting for results and can’t find anyone that’s had a similiar experience and am very worried.

Hi

I too am in the same situation as yourself, I woke up last Thursday with a red patch on my breast underneath my nipple and went to see the doctor immediately, the doctor said it was a bacterial infection and gave me antibiotics.

Over the weekend the patch seem to get bigger and change colour, it went a purply colour, I have been on the antibiotics now for five days and it still the same size, it has reduced slightly and colour but it looks very veiny. It is slightly itchy and very smooth.

waiting for my breast clinic appointment to come through as the doctor referred me.  I am 48.

i would push for an appointment if I was you.

That's good that your GP referred you to the breast clinic already. The appointment I had came through pretty quickly once I got to that stage, so hopefully yours will be the same.

Sounds very similar in that it started red and went purply.

So I finally spoke to another GP on the phone and he referred me to the breast clinic. Long story short, they referred me for a mammogram and just got the results which show nothing of concern. They still don't know what the bruise is or what it's caused by, but my mind is more at rest about it. The pain in the one breast is put down to peri-menopause. Took three months to get that reassurance and it's five months since it appeared.

I hope you're also able to get some reassurance and it proves to be nothing to worry about. Crossing everything for you. All the very best and let us know.

Hi ladies I know you posted in 2019 but just wondering how you all got on? I am 24 but my mum has just been diagnosed with IBC. She's had a painful, rock hard boob and her nipple went inverted. It started in November 2019 and she only got diagnosed yesterday! The doctors didn't refer her to the breast clinic until the 2nd of January. I am so scared for my mum, she has brought me up on my own and has been the best nanny to my 6 year old daughter. My dad used to be an addict to hard drugs and hasn't done drugs in over 8 years. I am so scared all of this will cause him to relapse. I am so stressed out about my mum I don't know what to do. It's 2 and a half months since she noticed the symptoms. She has a CT scan on Wednesday to see if it's spread and starts chemo the week after that. 
 

Fern x

Hi all, 

I've had a rash on my breast since just before Christmas that is thick and red. Been to the docs today and she is referring me to the breast clinic. I am terrified. 

How long did it take everyone to be diagnosed? I'm in the lucky position that because I'm 28 and don't have kids mastitis has been ruled out. 

Thanks 

G