Breast Cancer Advice Center

Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

For three months now, I've been getting an intermittent breast rash, on the underside, which is quite hot to the touch. Antibiotics have helped clear it up on 2 occasions. There is however still a visible residual shadow of the rash. Of course nothing shows up on mammogram or ultrasound. The only symptoms I don't seem to have are the inverted nipple and no discharge from the breast. It seems the pores look bigger, so maybe I have the orange peel rash, maybe not. I'm no expert. At one Emergency Room visit I was told I have cellulitis. I was sent to the ER twice by my gynecologist because the rash wasn't clearing up quick enough in her opinion, once the antibiotics were started. (Amoxycillon) What I'm wondering is, with IBC does the cancer rash respond to antibiotics generally? What type doctor should I see now? My primary care and ask for a referral? From what I've read an MRI can detect Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Biopsy seems debatable. What now? Any IBC survivors? The first rash came on quick, within hours from pea size to 3 inch by 4 inch by morning. 2nd time, again, quick and large. Another area on side of breast also started 2 more rashes.

Public Comments

1. I understand your concern. Since you have never seen IBC you are concerned about what it actually looks like and how fast the symptoms spread. The peau de orange rash gets much worse very quickly. Some people have reported that antibiotics seem to have an effect on the rash. This delays the correct diagnosis and treatment. The bottom line is this , you know your body. Does it feel like an infection to you? Or do you have a "bad feeling" about this? If you don't have %100 confidence that it is benign then push for a visit with a specialist and get a punch biopsy.
   
   Edit-
   
   A punch biopsy is the tool of choice to identify IBC. Here is a question that might help you make up your mind, do you have a fever with the rash? Mastitis (sp?) and other infections would tend to present with a fever. As far as what doctor to go see, a breast specialist. A good second choice would be an oncologist like the person who answered above. Grille your choice on their experience with IBC. You don't have time to play games with some persons inexperience. Get the punch biopsy and rule it in or out. It is a simple procedure that they can do right there in the office for you. Results only take a few days at most. I still think that this is something less malignant than IBC based on statistics but what do I know? What does anyone else know without doing some testing? Some semi-educated guesses based on averages.
2. Go to an M.D doctor and she will refer u to a specialist. I don't understand why u went to the emergency two times.This was not an emergency.You really need to get an M.D doctor. Good luck
3. there are no antiobotics or even treatments available for ibc at this time. the medical world is actually just beginning to come in contact with this rare cancer, and so far, they are doing as much as possible to determine causes and cures.
   
   
   you can check this news website out
   and watch the news report as well.
   [[i know there are toll free numbers to call if on here if u have questions]]
   
   http://www.komotv.com/ibc
4. See your primary care or gyn and ask for a referral to a breast clinic. you should be seen asap. you're right to be concerned. IBC should be ruled out.
5. Ugh, I have NO idea what the heck miss kimi is talking about. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form of regular breat cancer, and there are effective treatments, even cures, that are well established.
   
   The skin condition will generally not improve markedly wtih antibiotics, and typically it will get worse over a period of weeks despite such treatment.
   
   IBC can actually have ultrasonographic features, as it tends to thicken the deep layers of skin, which show up on the ultrasound.
   
   My concern would be that you have a "worse" cellulitis, and amoxicillin is not exactly the best antibiotic in the world for cellulitis. If the skin changes clear with antibiotic or other supportive therapy (or just with time), you don't need an MRI or a biopsy.
6. There is somethng called Pagets Disease......look into it