Can you get IBC as a recurrance?

[YoungNbreastless]

First, I am a breast cancer survivor. I had ductal carcinoma in my left breast and lymphnodes, because I'm only 27, I had a bilat mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. I completed my treatment in July 2010.

Two weeks ago I noticed this redness and puffy-ness on my right breast, on the inner part of the breast. I let it go for a week until I mentioned it to my nurse at my Oncologist office. So last Monday they put me on an antibiotic, three days later, with no improvement of the redness, they switched my antibiotic again. The redness area started getting bigger and bigger (from about an inch diameter to 2.5 inch diameter of a circle.) I don't have any fevers. I do have some body pains in my back and legs.

I went back in today and they did an ultrasound. They did not find any fluid under the skin but the radiologist said my lymphatic vessels were quite enlarged. And instead of doing a biospy like I asked for 3 times, they just gave me another antibiotic.

I am getting frustrated that they are not taking the pre-cautions I would hope for with someone who got a very aggressive breast cancer before at such a young age. What do you think I should do? Has anyone ever had IBC? do these sound like your symptoms?

[japdip]

I personally would NOT "wait and see" ... I would be finding some answsers no matter what I had to do to get them. If you're comfortable with waiting then by all means continue but that wouldn't "do it" for me. Good luck and Best Wishes .....

[YoungNbreastless]

Well I've been on antibiotics for over a week now and its not that it's just not improving, but it is actually getting worse. But I know IBC is in the lymph vessels, not in the breast tissue, that's why I'm worried. I had skin sparring bilateral mastectomy.

They thought I had just an infection, but with no fevers and no improvement with antibiotics, they are somewhat just "waiting to see what happens"

[japdip]

You state that you had Bilat. Mastectomies so there should be no breast tissue remaining. The Oncologist must think this is some type of infection to have ordered Antibiotic Therapy. If you aren't comfortable with the results of your present medical care then you are certainly entitled to seek a second opinion. The type of biopsy to diagnose IBC would be a biopsy of the skin. There would be no way that you would see any improvement after only 3 days on an Antibiotic though ... you might get the opinion of a Breast Specialist; perhaps the Dr. who initially diagnosed your BC.  Regards ....