Possible inflammatory bc after invasive ductal

dizzybuff38

I was dx with invasive ductal cancer Jan 2003, stage and grade 2, 2 cm, 4/18 lymph nodes affected, had WLE, total axillary removal, 6 x FEC, 25 rads. Been on Arimidex 3 yrs. Complicated by weekly injections of 25 mg methotrexate for Crohn's, which is now under control.

For some months now I noticed the breast where I had the tumour, below the nipple, is very swollen, as is the aureole. Last week I noticed a large area around the scar and at least 3" beyond, is pink, with white noticeable lumps that have spread very fast to become long white lumps. My orginal tumour was none palpable (found on 3 yrly mammo).

Hubby urged me to ring my bc nurse at the specialist breast care centre where I had my surgeries and treatment. Nurse said to see GP asp, which I did that evening. She said "there is definitely something wrong, but I don't know what" and typed a fax to my bc surgeon for an urgent referral, as I dressed.
Nurse rang today, obviously worried at my symptoms, and said they hadn't rcvd the fax, so asked GP, who said it was definitely sent.

In the meantime I have been doing all the research I can, on the internet, and it rather looks to me as if it could be inflammatory bc.

Is this possible, 4 yrs after the original invasive ductal dx? If it is, what is the treatment, as I guess I can't have rx on that breast again.

Has anyone else had this set of circumstances? There is so little information on my UK bc site.
Many thanks for any insight and help.
Liz.

mssue · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:29 am Post subject: re

Hi Liz,

I cannot be of any help as far as having the same thing happen but I wanted you to know that I'll be praying for you. I hope everything is ok have you found out anything yet?Be still my heart I don't think I could handle it any better than you sweetie,I can only imagine what has been going through your mind lately.

I have seen your post here many times,I may not be able to remember many things but I remember Dizzybuff.
Please take care of yourself and let me know that you are ok.God Bless You!

{{{{{{{Big Hugs}}}}}}}
_________________
Sue
Age-44
DX-8/29/2003
Stage 1 - ER/PR-,HER2-NU+
Infilterating Ductal Carcinoma
Modified Radical Mastectomy/Left-side
4 Rounds of A/C-completed 1/2004

dizzybuff38 · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:14 am Post subject: Possible IBC

Hi Sue, thanks for responding.
I was seen last Wed in the breast care clinic - new female bc surgeon, very communicative. She sent me off for a mamo on both breasts and ultrasound on the right one. Radiographer called in Consultant Radiologist and he did another u/s. H said he didn't see anything abnormal, which I expected, as I have read that ibc does not show on these tests. Back to see surgeon who did a biopsy. Result in two weeks - that old waiting game again! She said it could be tissue changes due to rx tx. I am not convinced.

I emailed Johns Hopkins' bc site and the nurse there said it would be unusual for changes due to rx to happen 3 yrs since finishing treatment.
She suggested a skin punch biopsy, but don't think I had that, as the surgeon used a big needle - no local anaesthetic, and boy did it hurt.
If the biopsy is inconclusive I am going to ask for a skin punch one to be on the safe side.

Just praying it is either due to rx or some kind of skin infection. The white lumps that can clearly be seen on the surface bother me most.

Thanks again,
Liz.

mssue · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject: IBC

Dear Liz,

Oh how you made me cringe at the thought of that big needle with nothing for pain-uhgggg... that brings back memories.When are U suppose to get the results back? I'll be praying for you - I know the waiting is a killer-jeez!I am not familiar with the exact procedure of the skin punch biopsy but I have heard of it-I guess or hope it just sounds rough.

Let me know when you get your results-it shouldn't be much longer should it? I'll wait with you...

Praying for you {{Big Hugs}}
_________________
Sue
Age-44
DX-8/29/2003
Stage 1 - ER/PR-,HER2-NU+
Infilterating Ductal Carcinoma
Modified Radical Mastectomy/Left-side
4 Rounds of A/C-completed 1/2004

Cindy · Senior User Joined: 01 Dec 2004 Posts: 156

dizzybuff, I had the same problem. I thought for sure that I had IBC. My breast started itching and I got these long, raised, hills and valley type things on my skin. My breast even turned like the orange peel. I called my Rad Onc, who acted piturbed, telling me that it was not due to the radiation, which I was questioning. I had finished rads about a year and a half, prior. After he told me that, I just KNEW that it had to be IBC. It was ugly. The raised areas were hard and ruff. Looked like branches spreading off of a tree, in the hill and valley range type of structure. I went to my onc and he said it looked like a bad tape burn...but I hadn't had any tape on it and I thought it was much worse than a tape burn, because of all of the raised areas and the orange peel skin. I then went to a dermatologist, who had never seen anything like it. He did a punch biopsy and the results were something like "traumatic dermatitis". So...I really think that it was from the radiation. I have read that rads can go on to affect an area for years. As long as I would keep cream on it, like Hydrocortisone and then the Pandel, prescribed by the Dermatologist, all of it would go away. If I stopped the meds, it would come back immediately. I could stand in the mirror and watch the raised areas erupt and the orange peel skin develop. It would start with an itchy tingle and I knew it was starting again. Finally, it just stopped and went away. Breast still itches from time to time, but the "whatever" has not come back. Hope that everything turns out well for you, too. Many blessings.
_________________
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www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org
www.diepbreastreconstruction.org
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