Paula

Hi Paula:

Courage! Take a deep breath.......things will be all right in the end. You are alert to the possibilities, so if there is a problem it won't get by the medical authorities. You are pointing your finger directly at the possibility of inflamitory breast cancer so they are going to have to rule it out.

My symptoms:
I had red swollen tissue around about 60% of the diameter of the nipple (but not involving the nipple) extending about 1.5 inches out. The swollen area was hard to the touch and very sensitive. It was also fairly deliniated - ie the red infected area, and then right beside it, normal healthy area. I didn't have any streaks or blushing outside of the infected area. (FYI-ultimately I wasn't diagnosed with IBC)

Once I started antibiotics it resolved fairly quickly. I believe I either got a 7 or 10 days worth of dose (can't remember for sure, as it was about 8 years ago).

I would be very careful to make sure that you don't run out of antibiotics before the inflamation in your breast is finished. You don't want the infection going nuts if you run out of pills before it's finished. If it is not resolving, try to get additional antibiotics right away as there will be a problem getting an extended prescription over the Easter, and probably for the week following because everyone will be on holidays. I would start working on it right away.

Then raise the issue with your oncologist. Ask him to rule out inflamitory breast cancer. It can't go too far in only a week. It's just the waiting that's a b...

Take care and good luck
Merridith