Yuyu's Cancer Diary
October 6, 2008
| Some info on IBC | Views: 677 |
Just wanted to share info on Inflammatory Breast Cancer here. It took me good two months to be diagnosed since the doctor kept saying it is an infection and giving me antibiotics… My mass grew bigger and bigger in those two months, scary! Is is also scary because this type of breast cancer often does not show on Mammo nor Uitrasound. Mine did not show on first Mammo although my mass was large and palpable.
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From Mayo Clinic website:
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that develops rapidly, making the affected breast red, swollen and tender. It’s a locally advanced cancer, meaning it has spread from its point of origin to nearby tissue and possibly to nearby lymph nodes.
The early signs of more-common forms of breast cancer — a breast lump or suspicious area on a routine, screening mammogram — are often absent in inflammatory breast cancer. Instead, the breast may appear normal until tumor cells invade and block lymphatic vessels in the overlying skin. Fluid backs up, and the breast swells and becomes discolored.
Inflammatory breast cancer can easily be confused with a breast infection, but if it’s cancer, symptoms won’t go away with antibiotics. Seek medical attention promptly if you notice skin changes on your breast, to help distinguish a breast infection from other breast disorders.
Inflammatory breast cancer accounts for between 1 percent and 6 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States. Survival rates are lower than those observed in other locally advanced breast cancers. But new treatment approaches offer greater odds for survival than ever before.
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Stacey 
Thanks for your support -
Scary how the mayo clinic explanation is exactly how it happened with you!
By the way…I love the pix of you in your wigs :-)
This is exactly the reason people in the know preach self-education. We must take the lead in our treatment and sometimes even on our diagnosis.
I am proud of you for reading and learning and becoming aggressive about the what, why and how of your cancer.
Today’s gold star goes to Yuyu!
Mac
gal you did your home work Proud of you.
It is always good to do some reading.
Hug sherri
Dear YuYu; You are always so informative. Thanks for that article. I wonder why they don’t make an ad on t.v. about this type of breast cancer. Lord knows every time I turn on the t.v. or switch from one station to the next there is an ad about cancer. Can’t seem to escape the word or the thought. How are you doing by the way. How are your treatments going? You are one brave fine lady. Did you get your parcel from your Mom yet? Want to know how the scarfs and hats look. Are you feeling ok? Are you hopefully home and not working? Yes I have a few questions for ya. Hope you don’t mind. Everything here is pretty good. My ultra sound was great on both boobs. 1 year and ticking. My bone scan and ct are scheduled for Nov. That is another issue altogether. Later on that one. Take care my friend. Look forward to your reply.
Weezie
Yuyu,
Wow, pretty frightening stuff. One would hope that physicians would be more alert to these alternative diagnoses. We are indeed our best advocates. As usual, I am with Weezie. I want to know the answers to her questions. Take care my girl. I love the photos.
Yuyu,
How does this make you feel. My throat just dropped to the pit of my stomach. Was there a date on that article?
Sonia
Sonia,
I have been in denial about my diagnosis for a long time, but I am finally trying to accept it now. It sure doesn’t feel good to know I’m fighting something very aggressive :( In case you wanna know more about this, this article has more info. http://www.komonews.com/ibc/
There is also IBC Research Foundation Site: http://www.ibcresearch.org/
Yuyu