Hi Bethany0107,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I can understand this must be worrying - try though not to jump to any conclusions, and do avoid looking things up on Google about this as the information can often be irrelevant and only cause further worry.

It's good that you have a referral - hopefully this means you'll get some answers before too long.

Try to keep your mind off it as much as possible in the meantime - keep yourself busy and distracted where possible.

If you'd like some information about what to expect at the breast clinic then do take a look at this page from Breast Cancer Now here.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi, I had an ultrasound on my breast and was told the tissue had thickened in the area where the patch is and then discharged without any explanation. Think I actually feel more worried now after I was told that! I just feel like that fact that I'm pregnant is being used as an excuse for all my symptoms. I'm still in alot of pain with it, the pores are now really exposed looking like orange peel and it's still very discoloured. I'm at a loss at what to do now I dont no whether to go private and get a 2nd opinion or whether I'm just being paranoid. I'm just scared it's something sinister and it's being overlooked. All of my symptoms suggest ibc and I'm still as scared as I was before my ultrasound. Last night my nipple felt wet and now I'm worried it's getting worse. I'm struggling to sleep at night now because of it. My left breast is now very itchy and has started to swell and feel very heavy. I'm very worried

Hi Bethany,

did you ever find out what this was? 
 

thank you 

Hi, yes i did and thankfully everything was fine! Think i ended up overreating abit because my doctor diagnosed me with health anxiety... oops but anyway I got re referred to the same clinic but this time they did a biopsy which came back and told me I had dermatitis. Now my son who I was pregnant with at the time is 9 months old and most of the symptoms are gone. I stil have dermatitis so my breasts are still abit discoloured but i don't have any patches or anything. I was an emotional wreck over this and convinced myself I was dying. Pregnancy hormones eh? But all is fine thank god. 

Thank god! So happy for you x

i have health anxiety too and am having the same experience with a red patch the size of a 50p, no itching or burning just a patch with a darker outline and I'm 7 weeks pregnant. Drs tomorrow so praying for the best as google hasn't been my friend at all this week I've been a mess x

Pregnancy does weird thing to our bodies! I had so many breast exams and had a doctor explain everyone of my symptoms to me so we could rule everything out. I became addicted to Googling and worried myself sick but honestly I'm sure it's nothing. Ibc is incredibly rare it's more likely pregnancy hormones messing with your body.

I know it's impossible not to worry i kept myself up all night crying because of it I was a wreck but googling really is the worst thing you can do! 

Let me know how your doc appointment goes and feel free to ask me anything else I'll reply :) 

Xxxxx

Hi Bethany,

Tried hydrocortisone and antibiotics and still got the mark, been referred to the breast clinic - I'm an absolute wreck. 
 

Do you happen to have any pictures of your patch? I know it was a while ago so probably not but yours sounds very familiar to mine so would be great to compare. 
 

no worries if not xx

Thank you [@Bethany0107]‍ for updating the thread. What a huge relief for you.

[@Amber_009]‍ I am 8 weeks pregnant, have a lump under my armpit (GP thinks lymph node) and then last night whilst I was obsessing about it I spotted a really small purple/red spot on my breast. I was freaking out before but my god I'm even worse now. I've barely slept. The one reassuring thing I've read though is that if it's ibc it usually covers quite alot of the breast quite quickly. 

Have you felt any lumps? I'm hoping it's all just hormones and us being at similar stages maybe it is a weird pregnancy thing! I feel sick with worry.

Hope you get your appointment for the breast clinic soon. Mine is the end of next week and feels like so far away. Despite being so lucky to have the nhs and be seen so quickly I can't imagine if we didn't have the 2 week pathway! X

Hi snoopy, 

Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy!! I know our bodies do some weird stuff with hormones. I dont feel any lumps, just a significant faint pink patch that won't budge. Just spoke to the breast clinic who can't fit me in until the week of the 21st, it's already been 4 weeks and I'm going mentally insane my mum is so worried about me. I can't wait another 2. 
 

You are right about the redness being 1/4 the breast so I think you will be absolutely fine. Your lymph nodes pick up any little infections so you will be fine but definitely push if you are worried!! Hope it disappears for you xx

Sorry Amber I didn't even say congratulations to you! Congratulations I hope your pregnancy is going well despite this cloud hanging over you!

Your patch sounds infuriating but if your GP was really worried he would be making sure you was seen quicker. Your age is definitely on your side. Does it feel hot to touch or anything? Did it just appear one day or did it gradually appear? 

I'd contact the clinic and ask them to put your name down incase of cancellations to see if you can get seen any quicker. It's not always possible but it's worth a try. 

The anxiety is awful. I'm a really anxious person anyway. Before this lump I was a wreck about pregnancy. It's constantly draining! 

Thank you for your message. Fingers crossed for us so we can try and enjoy our pregnancies! X