Inflammatory Breast Cancer

[Vegas_Dave]

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.

[WilliamTheIrish]

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

[Extra Point]

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

[JOhn]

Your family will be in our prayers

[zdawg]

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.

[the Talking Can]

i wish you both the best..

[Bowser]

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

[StcChief]

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

[Vegas_Dave]

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.

[Rain Man]

Good luck on this, and keep us updated.

[Frankie]

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

[SAUTO]

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

[doomy3]

Prayers

[Simplex3]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Good luck on this, and keep us updated.

This.

[KCFalcon59]

Prayers being sent your way. Stay strong.