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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
IBC Is Redness always the whole breast?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
IBC Is Redness always the whole breast?
by serea, Jul 13, 2005 12:00AM
I discovered a few weeks ago a red roundish patch on my left breast on the side and below my breast about 3 inches in diameter. At first I figured I'd been bitten by something but thought to myself you'd have remembered a bug on your breast, but passed it off. But when it remained for over 3 weeks and seemed to be a tad not much but a tad larger I became concerned and had a closer examination of it. the whole area is EXACTLY like the photos I've seen online pitted like an orange peel.
My question is that I've only seen pictures of whole breasts engulfed in this disease. Does it begin with the whole breast or can it also start small and spread?
I do have an appointment tomorrow with my primary doctor. But in the mean time I really wanted to know. My breast is a tad swollen but only to my eyes I think someone looking at it wouldn't see that much of a difference, the reason I know there is, is the way my bra fits now. When I take it off there are lines from the tightness on my left breast but none on my right.
One more thing almost simultaneously my left shoulder and neck began hurting a lot. Of course I never connected the two but now I'm wondering can your shoulder and neck hurt from this?
Thank all of you for your kindness in any info you can give me.
God bless
Sherry
My question is that I've only seen pictures of whole breasts engulfed in this disease. Does it begin with the whole breast or can it also start small and spread?
I do have an appointment tomorrow with my primary doctor. But in the mean time I really wanted to know. My breast is a tad swollen but only to my eyes I think someone looking at it wouldn't see that much of a difference, the reason I know there is, is the way my bra fits now. When I take it off there are lines from the tightness on my left breast but none on my right.
One more thing almost simultaneously my left shoulder and neck began hurting a lot. Of course I never connected the two but now I'm wondering can your shoulder and neck hurt from this?
Thank all of you for your kindness in any info you can give me.
God bless
Sherry
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Jul 14, 2005 12:00AM
Dear Sherry: Inflammatory breast cancer may not appear to consume the whole breast (although by definition it does). Redness and inflammation can also occur from other causes, too. You are doing the right thing by having it evaluated by a physician.
