[Becky]

I agree with the skin mets. Don't let your mind go to a dark place.

However, I will make some comments but it is just me - a layman and NOT a doctor. This is only my opinion on the difference between skin mets and IBC.

One thing is that you don't have your real breast to judge but usually IBC is diagnosed from the get go because there is a true biological difference between IBC and IDC. There is a reason it behaves as it does - swollen, red, hot breast. Dimpling, orange peel skin, inverting nipple. Some "dots" or small pimples but maybe not everywhere.

Skin mets is more a recurrence. Like you said, where was the cancer going to go? It is a tumor or large pimple. If there is redness around it, it has a raised edge versus it being smooth between the red and normal colored skin. It has a more "lesion" looking appearance.

Besides some chemo and surgery, I don't know if your doctor mentioned radiation. I didn't read your signature to see if you had radiation already but if you did not, you should ask and have a consultation with a radiation oncologist.

I am so sorry that you have to go through this scare but a local recurrence is more than doable and survivable. Unfortunately, you will have to work harder (have more treatment) but I know you can do it.