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ImObsessedWithGlee
31-12-14, 21:18
Okay this is my second time today posting here (my anxiety is just so bad today) and my problem now is I'm terrified I have inflammatory breast cancer :(

I have been diagnosed a few months ago with fibrocystic breast changes which do involve extremely lumpy breasts, breast thickening, pain and tenderness which are all the symptoms I'm currently having. And they are some of the symptoms of IBC too :(

The reason I'm scared is because it's affecting my left breast more than the right one :( Both breasts as as painful as each other, but there's more swelling, breast thickening and lumps on my left one :( I don't have any redness or dimpling in the breast which also seem to be major symptoms of IBC but I'm still freaking out :(

It's probably nothing to worry about at all. I have recently started taking birth control pills and a side effect of them was painful and swollen breasts too but the thought of 'it could be cancer' is making me panic so so much :(
By the way, I'm 19 years old and there is no history of cancer at all on either side of my family.

If anyone could just help reassure me I don't have IBC or any breast cancer that would honestly be great! I really don't want to be anxious and panicky going into the new year :(
Thank you!

Yogi
31-12-14, 21:29
Breast pain is worsened by stress/anxiety... If you have been checked by the doctor already I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It sounds as it you already know what is causing this but it's hard to think straight when you are feeling scared.
I ended up going to a specialist breast cancer clinic because I had pain and could feel a lump (my doctor couldn't feel anything but sent me to be safe).
The consultant at the clinic said she sees lots of women with pain that is caused by anxiety.
The lump was just a small harmless cyst that showed up on ultrasound scan by the way :)

---------- Post added at 21:29 ---------- Previous post was at 21:26 ----------

Meant to say try not to worry as it all sounds like you're fine.
If you are still not happy just go back to your doctor next week. It's what they are there for and no doctor will ever mind you wanting to double check your breast health.
Happy New Year!

ImObsessedWithGlee
31-12-14, 21:57
Breast pain is worsened by stress/anxiety... If you have been checked by the doctor already I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It sounds as it you already know what is causing this but it's hard to think straight when you are feeling scared.
I ended up going to a specialist breast cancer clinic because I had pain and could feel a lump (my doctor couldn't feel anything but sent me to be safe).
The consultant at the clinic said she sees lots of women with pain that is caused by anxiety.
The lump was just a small harmless cyst that showed up on ultrasound scan by the way :)

---------- Post added at 21:29 ---------- Previous post was at 21:26 ----------

Meant to say try not to worry as it all sounds like you're fine.
If you are still not happy just go back to your doctor next week. It's what they are there for and no doctor will ever mind you wanting to double check your breast health.
Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for your reply :) I was checked by the doctor who diagnosed me but that was about 9 months ago so I'm afraid it's something more now, even though there's nearly a 100% it's absolutely nothing! I'm sure it's all caused as a combination of just starting the birth control pills, my period being due in a week and the fibrocystic changes so everything will probably go back to normal in a week but it's just the waiting and the 'what if it doesn't go back to normal' thoughts that are causing all this anxiety :(

Great news that your lump was only a cyst :D Happy New Year to you too! :)

puzzledlass
31-12-14, 22:20
IBC is linked to a certain gene which usually runs in families. You would likely know if you were at risk for this gene as members of your family would have probably suffered IBC too.

My left breast is often sore, I panicked too as my Mum had bc (she's fine now btw) and I had a scan which was ok. Breast pain is just that, a pain! If a doc has seen your breasts and is not concerned - i wouldn't be either. They know the signs and what to look for!

ImObsessedWithGlee
31-12-14, 22:35
IBC is linked to a certain gene which usually runs in families. You would likely know if you were at risk for this gene as members of your family would have probably suffered IBC too.

My left breast is often sore, I panicked too as my Mum had bc (she's fine now btw) and I had a scan which was ok. Breast pain is just that, a pain! If a doc has seen your breasts and is not concerned - i wouldn't be either. They know the signs and what to look for!

Okay that just made me relax so much :D I didn't realise it was a heredity cancer gene at all! And there's no history of any type of cancer at all in my family so that's really reassuring :D Thank you so so much :)

Yes the doctor had seen my breasts before but that was about 9 months ago so now I'm afraid it's actually something serious :( But I guess if IBC is heredity I'll have nothing to worry about in terms of that type of cancer anyway :D Thank you so so much and I'm glad your Mum is okay too :D

puzzledlass
31-12-14, 22:54
Just keep up with the regular checks (not that I think anything is wrong with you but is something all women should do! Men too!)

ImObsessedWithGlee
31-12-14, 23:21
Just keep up with the regular checks (not that I think anything is wrong with you but is something all women should do! Men too!)

Oh I will for definite! My breasts are naturally lumpy anyway so I plan on getting them checked once a year just in case I miss something.