Pain? Redness? You don't need a lump to have breast cancer. PLEASE READ.

[anon1234]

Hi. While surfing the net for my own symptoms, I found out about inflammatory breast cancer.

It's somewhat rare, and the symptoms are similar to mastitis. For these two reasons, the diagnosis is often delayed. So I thought I'd bring it to the forum's attention as many messages seem to be about breast pain (without obvious lumps).

AVOID DELAYS IN DIAGNOSIS.
PLEASE TELL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS & RELATIVES ABOUT INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER. (although it's not restricted to females)

My own hunch is that pain in one breast that is unrelated to menstrual changes need more attention, but see this link: http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/brthl/hw84820

Here are the symptoms of IBC from this url
http://www.ibcresearch.org/symptoms

One or more of the following are Typical Symptoms of IBC.

            *YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LUMP TO HAVE BREAST CANCER*
            *Rapid, unusual increase in breast size
            *Redness, rash, blotchiness on breast
            *Persistent itching of breast or nipple
            *Lump or thickening of breast tissue
            *Stabbing pain and/or soreness of breast
            *Feverish breast
            *Swelling of lymph nodes under the arm or above the collarbone
            *Dimpling or ridging of the breast
            *Flattening or retracting of nipple


Another link: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/IBC

Clinical trials:
http://www.cancer.gov/search/ResultsClinicalTrials.aspx?protocolsearchid=2137677

Pics (advanced?), graphic:
http://www.ibcresearch.org/symptoms/ibcvsc.htm

[Eils]

Hi,

I am 43 and had my first mammogram.  My results looked suspicious and I was told that I have to go back for a more thorough Mammogram, as they detected some thickening of breast tissue on my left breast lower right side.  My appnt is this Friday and I am needless to say worried sick.  I have a little boy and I worry for him.  I have felt a dull pain that would come and go on the opposite side of that breast.  Now since I've been told about the suspicious results I have had muscle pain on my lower leg, left hand side, and neck and shoulder pain??!!!  I don't know if i'm conjuring the pain up or if it's real.  The leg pain disappeared after a few days but now my neck, left hand side feels heavy? My 19 month old boy is heavy so maybe I picked him up wrong?  

My Doctor gave me an exam and he felt no lumps.  If I did have cancer is this a good sign that he felt no lumps?  Could it mean it was caught early?  Or could I have had it a long time but it's the type of breast cancer that doesn't produce lumps?  

Any advise you have for me would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks very much....

[anon1234]

I really don't know. I read about one case where the rash appeared and disappeared and reappeared a few times, but in other cases, it stays and may or may not worsen. I even read about a woman who only had a red spot on her masectomy scar (other breast cancer).

You should ask someone with expertise.

Here are some sites.
http://www.ibcresearch.org
http://www.ibchelp.org
http://www.ibcsupport.org

[member]

Does this rash that accompanies inflammatory breast cancer come and go or does it remain?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear anon1234:  Inflammatory breast cancer is quite uncommon.  Benign breast pain (pain which has no malignant cause) is quite common - and not always associated with menstruation.  While the symptoms listed in "you don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer" can be symptoms of breast cancer, they are not all symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer.  The symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include a red (rash covered), swollen, and warm to touch breast.  

[anon1234]

CCF-RN, MCF-RN

I just realised this is a question and answer site and not a patients' site with the some expert participation.

Oops. :)

[anon1234]

Just to alleviate concerns for those of you with breast pain, please note the following phrase, "rarely cancer", and bear in mind that breast pain has been experienced by something like 70%* of women:

http://qap.sdsu.edu/screening/breastcancer/bda/flowcharts/pain_algo6.html

Mastalgia (breast pain) is the most common breast-related complaint at both primary care clinics and breast referral centers. Most of these complaints are cyclic in nature. Cyclic pain usually is normal in menstruating women or in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy. Fibrocystic changes represent the most common cause of cyclic breast pain and symptoms are typically bilateral and described as diffuse, dull, full, achy, and heavy.

Non-cyclic causes include a ruptured cyst, a non-ruptured cyst under tension, fat necrosis, cervical radiculitis, intercostal neuritis, shingles, Tietze