# i may/probably have inflammatory breast cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815 "2019-06-20T18:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/21 "2019-06-22T21:24:17Z")
I had my taxes done shortly after I went through radiation (and I experienced none of the horror stories I’d heard about that, either!) and my preparer said that a few weeks earlier, she woke up one weekend morning with a swollen breast, and when she started bleeding out her nipple, she high-tailed it to the ER. She, too turned out to have an infection, and she didn’t have a fever or swelling either. It was very deep and localized, and hot packs and a few days of antibiotics took care of it. Scared the crap out her, however. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/22 "2019-06-23T23:45:21Z")
I sincerely appreciate the good thoughts and resources from you guys. I feel like tonight is the last night of my ‘real’ life (my mamm/sonogram/possible biopsy are tomorrow) and I’m just petrified. Too late now but I sure wish I’d been raised in some sort of faith. Self-serving of me, but it seems like a gift to have some belief in another world. Doesn’t mean religious folks who are ill don’t get scared, but there must be some hopeful cushion that they can cling to. Nearly done with my (7-day) round of antibiotics, and it’s done nothing–in fact there’s now a sort of abscess visible under my skin–so that lets out an infection. Unless diabetics take longer to heal, but that’s just wishful thinking. I’m also beginning to wonder if the mammary duct ectasia I had last year was accurately diagnosed. Such a weird and unfortunate coincidence that this is happening in exactly the same place. But it has to be unrelated since that lump (the result of a plugged duct) went away. Anyway… I am so grateful for all of you and the SDMB community as a whole. I’ve had three health scares before this in the past sixteen months and you’ve all been amazingly kind and informative. I’ll probably join support groups too, thanks for the recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/23 "2019-06-24T00:19:54Z")
I hope whatever you have done tomorrow, you get the results immediately. The place where I go for mammograms, they tell you right away. I mean, you sit there in your little skimpy hospital top and someone comes and tells you within 15 minutes whether your mammogram is okay or whether you need a biopsy. I’ve never had a sonogram, not sure why. Some of my friends have had them. If you need a biopsy, you can schedule it right away, like within a couple of days. But the biopsy results take a week–ugh. And you have to come in to get the results, whether it’s positive or negative. I don’t understand why. Do keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/24 "2019-06-24T00:49:35Z")
choie, I’m so sorry this is happening! I don’t have any good advice or futile words of comfort, but I’m thinking of you. I know what you mean about envying people with faith because I’ve done that, too. Getting out in nature helps me. Just sitting on a park bench can be restorative. Hugs! ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/25 "2019-06-24T07:00:36Z")
When I got cancer, I realized getting the diagnosis doesn’t put you in a separate group. I always thought it did, like you got a cancer diagnosis and became A Cancer Patient, separate from the Normal People. But I was still me; my body had erred and made a bad copy of a cell, and then it couldn’t stop. This is also why I didn’t want to use attack imagery. It was merely a part of my body gone wrong, not an invasion of foreign cells. So there is no “real life” vs. “cancer life.” If you do get the diagnosis, that’s part of your real life. It’s not the end of you as you are now. In the absence of religious faith, take comfort in the many people who must care about you. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/26 "2019-06-25T19:27:24Z")
How did it go yesterday? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/27 "2019-06-25T19:59:24Z")
Fingers crossed for you from downunder **choie.** ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/28 "2019-06-26T00:34:19Z")
I’m thinking of you too. If it helps, you aren’t alone. _hugs_ ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/29 "2019-06-26T00:51:09Z")
choie, I am thinking of you and hope you are ok. ---
**Author:** ![skyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@skyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skyr)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/30 "2019-06-27T00:28:22Z")
It doesn’t look like she has been on this site since the 23rd. Hope everything is ok. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/31 "2019-06-27T01:07:52Z")
Be patient friends. I know it’s hard to wait, but give her time. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/32 "2019-06-29T01:15:12Z")
Soooo… **choie** … what’s happening with you? ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/33 "2019-06-29T07:37:56Z")
Thinking of you,\*\* choie\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/34 "2019-07-25T19:28:26Z")
Since apparently \*\*choie \*\*has been back to the boards recently, I’m interested in a follow-up to this thread. I was diagnosed with breast cancer _(IDC \<1 cm, lumpectomy, 3 weeks radiation, no chemo)_ four years ago, and I’m always wanting to hear other people’s stories. What was the news, **choie**? ---
**Author:** ![skyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@skyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skyr)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/35 "2019-07-28T08:24:36Z")
I keep checking back here for an update too. Choie, please let us know how you are doing. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/36 "2019-07-28T08:29:23Z")
I missed this the first time. Please let us know how you are doing. You’re one of the good people. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/37 "2019-07-28T12:25:15Z")
I hope all is well, too. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/38 "2019-07-28T13:25:38Z")
We’ll keep sending good vibes your way no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/39 "2019-07-28T17:50:06Z")
My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago, although honestly it feels like a year. She did _not_ catch it early - she has a 5 cm tumor in her right breast, spread to her armpit lymph nodes, but thankfully not beyond. We start chemo tomorrow. It’s going to be roughly six months of that, followed by surgery, followed by radiation. The thought of it is terrifying, obviously, but after the past month, it’s also a bit of a relief. At least we’re finally _doing_ something besides tests. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815/40 "2019-07-28T18:11:50Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago, although honestly it feels like a year. She did _not_ catch it early - she has a 5 cm tumor in her right breast, spread to her armpit lymph nodes, but thankfully not beyond. > > We start chemo tomorrow. It’s going to be roughly six months of that, followed by surgery, followed by radiation. The thought of it is terrifying, obviously, but after the past month, it’s also a bit of a relief. At least we’re finally _doing_ something besides tests. I’m so sorry. You’ve got a bit of a long haul ahead of you. However, what I told myself was, “Millions of women have gotten through this, and if they can get through it, so can I.” There are so many support resources around, especially on the internet, that you feel like you’re drowning in them. The community at [breastcancer.org](http://breastcancer.org) is VAST, but use of the search function can usually help you find the forum you can best relate to. The women there know everything and have been through everything. It’s so good she has you to lean on. All the best to both of you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-probably-have-inflammatory-breast-cancer/835815.md?page=3)