My mother who is 53 years old has a red swollen breast

Hi, my mother who is 53 years old, has discovered yesterday that her left breast was hurting her and was swollen and later on in the day it had developed a red mark along the side of her breast from the nipple to close to the arm pit. Only that side is red, not the whole breast. where it is red along that side it has a large mass of hardness. sort of like a big wedge shape. where it is red, it is tender and is painfull when touched. the other side of the same breast feels normal and soft. The skin is smooth, and no visable cracked patches of skin, and nipple looks normal. Last night she got a very high fever. Today she felt a bit nausiated and then couldnt continue her dinner.

Im hoping and praying it is mastitis and not inflammatory breast cancer, She has almost all symptoms of mastitis but only some of the IBC. She is not pregnant or breastfeeding.

From what i have told you, What do you think it is, and what do you think should be done?
And also like to add, cancer does not run in our family history.

Could this still be mastitis, some sort of breast infection, something to do with menopause (as she is going through it at the moment) or could it be IBC?

Thank You. Rebecca

[katarina777]

I think this is a breast infection for sure and your mom should be seen by a doctor ASAP. it's not IBC. These hurt a lot and she needs to be seen right away. You are a good daughter to watch out for her. KAT

[Beckydiab]

Thanks katarina.

Yes well i hope it is just mastitis and not IBC. Luckily she did get a fever, which is a symptom of breast infection.

[katarina777]

yes, it does not sound anything like IBC, I am sure. But breast infections suck as well. kat