Inflammatory Breast Cancer
 

UPDATE 2/5

NO CANCER! Oh my gosh. They still dont know whats going on but the fact that the biopsy came back negative has us on cloud 9.

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers.

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So right now, we are having to wait a few days to rule out an infection that is likely not the culprit of whats going on, but it looks more and more likely that my wife might have Inflammatory Breast Cancer

This is the rarest and deadliest form of breast cancer because there is no early detection and it doesnt show up with other cancer screenings.

IBC accounts for only 1-6% of breast cancer cases but it accounts for over 20% of breast cancer deaths and itself has about a 40% survival rate beyond 5 years.

We dont know for 100% certainty that this is what she has but as each day goes by, it becomes more likely that this is thre reality that we are about face.

Prayers would of course be appreciated.

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update Sunday 1/25

Thanks guys.

Another 24 hours has pased and still no response to the antibiotics (3rd dose, 10 days the first 2 doses and now 72+ hours on the 3rd dose) and with each passing hour we feel closer and closer that IBC is the real culprit.

If there is no imrpovement by tomorrow morning, we are going to insist that the doctor's start the tests to find out whether this is IBC or not. My wife's family has a history of cancer's so the more and more likely we believe it to be.

My wife finally opened up to me last night about everything that she has been feeling/thinking though I already knew as it has been the same things that I have been feeling/thinking.

I have been through a lot of difficult things in my life and I know that I can face this on my own personal level, but this time I have my wife and 3 young boys (ages 6, 4 & less then 3 months) to guide through this as well. I know that I can, it just isn't going to be easy.

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Update Monday 1/26

Well, as we expected, no improvement yet. We have been fighting with 3 different medical practices/offices in order to get in so that we can just get an f'ing referral to the oncologist. I really hate healthcare sometimes.

And of course, her doctor changed practices as of this week but is taking a week off before making the switch, so we cant get ahold of her at all this week.

My wife just finished screaming at the lady dealing with call in center for her practice that she has been going to shouting "look, I'm a 26 year old wife and mother of 3 who likely has an advanced stage of cancer, I need to get in today and cannot wait 72 hours for a call back like it took last time"

If we havent gotten in anywhere by noon, we are heading to the ER and will get the referral that way.

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Update Tuesday 1/27

After spending all day on the phone arguing with offices and receptionists etc... we finally made it into a breast specialist.

She said that she didnt think it was "likely" that it was IBC but seemed to base that solely on my wifes young age (26) and the fact that she was nursing. She felt that it was much more likely that the ER missed something on the ultrasound that they performed last week so she wanted to do her own ultrasound.

Well, just like in the ER, her ultrasound showed nothing. She still said that she felt "reasonably sure" that it wasnt IBC and guessed that it must be an infection related with nursing. She told my wife to stop breast feeding immediately and continue on the antibiotics because if there is bacteria in the milk, it gets reintroduced every time she nurses him.

Unfortunately, I was out of the room at this point as the 12 week old baby was fed up with the office as much as I was and so I was not there to dispute her and my wife didnt want to dispute as she was liking what she was hearing.

So for now, we are now in a holding pattern waiting for her milk to dry up to then see if the bacterial infection is what is really going on.

I still have a sick feeling in my gut about this and fear that we have just delayed the real issue with a dash of hope right now... my gut is usually as right as it is big... so a lot.

I really truly do hope that she is right

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Update 2/2

So a week ago we had the appointment where the doctor said she really did not think it was IBC (read last update).

A few days ago, we started to think we were seeing an improvements. The physical size of the rash/redness was still the same but it seemed to be fading in color - or so we thought.

At the follow up appointment this afternoon, the doctor said she wasnt seeing any improvement. Perhaps it had gotten redder from not nursing and then had gone back down to normal now that the milk is starting to dry up. Dunno.

She still stated that she didnt think it was IBC but did decide to finally do the biopsy.

So now we have to wait until Thursday for the biopsy results.<!-- / message -->

Dave, I wish you and your wife all the best in the days to come. I know what you're going through.

I can't imagine your thoughts duing this time, but I wish that they can find it, and cure it.

Your family will be in our prayers

I know nothing about IBC, Vegas Dave. What I do know is never listen to the odds. I hope your wife doesn't have to face this, but if she does, you have to have hope she can beat it.

My wife was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer, odds of her making it five years were under 5%. After a complete hysterectomy, exploratory surgery, and six rounds of chemo, she has been in remission for over three years. No sign of cancer anywhere. Obviously, she is going to make the five year mark. Her doctor, who is a very straight shooter, told her on the last visit "You know, there are women out there who have beaten this, I think you are one of them."

So hang in there, find a good support group, either a church, family, friends, and keep her spirits up. If it is cancer, she can beat it. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

i wish you both the best..

Sorry to hear this, man. Best of luck to your wife and you.

VD sorry to hear this. Spirits up, she can beat this. my x-MIL had double masectomy and survived.

Thanks guys. Another 24 hours has pased and still no response to the antibiotics (3rd dose, 10 days the first 2 doses and now 72+ hours on the 3rd dose) and with each passing hour we feel closer and closer that IBC is the real culprit.

If there is no imrpovement by tomorrow morning, we are going to insist that the doctor's start the tests to find out whether this is IBC or not. My wife's family has a history of cancer's so the more and more likely we believe it to be.

My wife finally opened up to me last night about everything that she has been feeling/thinking though I already knew as it has been the same things that I have been feeling/thinking.

I have been through a lot of difficult things in my life and I know that I can face this on my own personal level, but this time I have my wife and 3 young boys (ages 6, 4 & less then 3 months) to guide through this as well. I know that I can, it just isn't going to be easy.

Good luck on this, and keep us updated.

Dave. I feel for you guys, dude. Fariba and I send you our best thoughts an prayers. Keep us updated.

can we get a sticky on this mods? VD prayers to you guys

Prayers

This.

Prayers being sent your way. Stay strong.

I'm really hoping and praying for the best here. Please keep the faith.

Vegas Dave, I wish both of you all the best.

I do not know if this is relevant or not but my friends wife died because the hospital misdiagnosed her. She had a breast cancer and they only assumed that any complications would happen below her breasts (as of many cases) but it turned out that in her case (1 in every 100,000) she had complications that caused a tumor in her brain, died within a week.

My prayers to you bro. It's really tough. Good luck.

Wishing you nothing but the best.

Stay strong. Keep faith.

Dave:

Forever in my prayers....

Thoughts and prayers for you and yours. Please do keep us informed as you find out more.

I know somewhat how you feel, Dave- my wife had breast cancer 3 years ago. I know very well how you're feeling right now. We were very fortunate in that it was detected very early. Needless to say, my wife and I's prayers are with you and your family. Feel free to pm or call if there's any way in which I can help.

Z

Best wishes to you and your family.

Our Prayers to you. No matter how good your Dr. is make sure you get a second opinion. He/She will understand. Hang in there and you guys can beat it.

Keep your head up. Stay positive and up beat.

A prayer for restored health for your wife.

Prayers from my fiance and me go out to you. My fiance lost her mom 4 years ago after an 8-year battle with IBC. I actually posted a thread when it happened. You may already have seen this site, but if not...

http://www.ibcresearch.org/

I have actually been to that site, its very (too) informative.

Thanks.

I wouldn't make any jokes with a major concern like this... I wish you wife the best...

I am sending out the strongest possible good wishes to you and your wife...Try and be strong for her, Dave...

Why isn't this stickied?

I was thinking the same thing. This needs to be at the top.

When my wife was discovered that she had breast cancer, she just had our 4th kids about 6 months. There was a brief sense of hopelessness. Then the friends from church rallied around us with comforts and prayers, at the end she had the operation and the cancer had not come back. That was 12 years ago. I will pray for your family. May His grace and mercy be with you all.

It was marked as a "misc" thread, so I doubt anyone noticed it.

Prayers to you and your family bud

Thoughts out to you and yours Vegas_Dave.

Thoughts and prayers, man.

Dave,

Thoughts and prayers to you, your wife, and your family!

Wow, man. I just read this.
Tearing up...and praying for you.
Hang tough and God Bless.
Insist in the most critical and sufficient care possible. Never stop pushing.

Just went thru similar situation last year... my 30 year old wife diagnosed Dec 2007... 3 times in and out of surgery, 4 rounds of chemo, 3 months of radiation... kids aged 9, 6, 5. It has been a year and she is cancer free. It is hard, but not impossible... Good luck and if I can do anything at all, say the word.

Dave, I am so sorry to hear this. Best of luck and all my prayers for both of you.

While I don't know anything about the various types of breast cancer, I can tell you that my mom had it and 11 years later she is doing fine. Hopefully it will be the same for your wife.

Prayers will be with you and I pray the test results will be negative for the cancer. Keep faith. Best wishes for you and your family.

Good luck, really.

Best of luck to both of you.

Best wishes, man. Hope everything turns out ok.

Prayers sent towards your way. I had a family member who had breast cancer.

just discovered this after reading about the Resveratrol thing on 60 Minutes...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0707081848.htm

it may be something worth looking into.

http://www.wholehealth.com/index.cfm...TOKEN=82383880

Thoughts and prayers going out to you and your wife.

Hoping for the best...

Best of luck to you and your family.

Thoughts and prayers, your way.

Dave, my wife Abigail is going through this very thing right now. She was diagnosed in July.

We are several rounds of chemo into it. It's tough.

She has a blog that she's been keeping of her experience:

http://www.hopeismymiddlename.blogspot.com

Hope you find it helpful.

Survival rates are getting better with this all the time, don't let the numbers scare you.


Chris

And my prayers are sent towards your way as well.

This is horrible. Possitive thoughts going out to you and your wife and kids. I'm so sorry.

I hope things turn for the better soon, all the best to you and your wife.

I just said a prayer for you and your family. Let us know if we can do anything at any time

I don't pray very often, but I just did for you and your wife. Remain strong.

Done

I couldn't leave the board this evening without posting here, Mr. Vegas_Dave.

Just want to say that I am very sorry to hear of this. You, your wife, and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers. Words are almost useless in these situations, but I would encourage you not to pay attention to the statistics and just focus on taking things one day at a time.

God bless.

FAX

Puts everything into perspective doesn't it? We'll hold each of you up in our prayers.

Update Tuesday 1/27

After spending all day on the phone arguing with offices and receptionists etc... we finally made it into a breast specialist.

She said that she didnt think it was "likely" that it was IBC but seemed to base that solely on my wifes young age (26) and the fact that she was nursing. She felt that it was much more likely that the ER missed something on the ultrasound that they performed last week so she wanted to do her own ultrasound.

Well, just like in the ER, her ultrasound showed nothing. She still said that she felt "reasonably sure" that it wasnt IBC and guessed that it must be an infection related with nursing. She told my wife to stop breast feeding immediately and continue on the antibiotics because if there is bacteria in the milk, it gets reintroduced every time she nurses him.

Unfortunately, I was out of the room at this point as the 12 week old baby was fed up with the office as much as I was and so I was not there to dispute her and my wife didnt want to dispute as she was liking what she was hearing.

So for now, we are now in a holding pattern waiting for her milk to dry up to then see if the bacterial infection is what is really going on.

I still have a sick feeling in my gut about this and fear that we have just delayed the real issue with a dash of hope right now... my gut is usually as right as it is big... so a lot.

I really truly do hope that she is right<!-- / message -->

will keep your wife and you in prayer. also mr chris and his wife.

Mastitis? I wouldn't hope that on any lady, but in your case, I hope so.

best wishes to your wives

and to both of you

and to everyone involved in the fight against cancer...

my brother died from brain tumors a while back...

it's scary stuff, scary stuff indeed...

again, best wishes for favorable outcomes...

More prayers have been said for your family.

Since it looks like this may be an ongoing thing, I'm going to go ahead and unstick this thread for now. Dave, best of luck, and please do keep us updated as things progress.

Update 2/2

So a week ago we had the appointment where the doctor said she really did not think it was IBC (read last update).

A few days ago, we started to think we were seeing an improvements. The physical size of the rash/redness was still the same but it seemed to be fading in color - or so we thought.

At the follow up appointment this afternoon, the doctor said she wasnt seeing any improvement. Perhaps it had gotten redder from not nursing and then had gone back down to normal now that the milk is starting to dry up. Dunno.

She still stated that she didnt think it was IBC but did decide to finally do the biopsy.

So now we have to wait until Thursday for the biopsy results.

Good Luck man.

Well, at least you'll finally have a solid answer - one way or another. Here's hoping you get the answer you're looking for so that you can sigh a breath of relief!

UPDATE 2/5

NO CANCER! Oh my gosh. They still dont know whats going on but the fact that the biopsy came back negative has us on cloud 9.

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers.

Congrats man! That's great news. At least now you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Congrats Dave.

Make sure you guys keep getting checkups.

Great news, man!

good to hear bro

Dave, that's great news. I'm sure the weight of the world has been lifted from you both. Best of luck from here.

Awesome. Thanks for the update.

FAX

The power of prayer, man. I'm very happy for you guys!!!

Z

Great news, Dave!

Fantastic news. I'm so very happy for you both. They will probably have her go for increased regular mammograms for a period just to make sure things don't change and then she's home free. Don't be alarmed if they ask this of you because that's pretty SOP after an abnormal mammogram.

:clap::):thumb::D:bravo:

FUGGIN AWESOME! :thumb:

It does raise the question, Mr. ZepSinger.

FAX