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Suggest Treatment For Depression, Anxiety And Inflammatory Breast Cancer

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Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015
Question: I am a 35 year old woman, 5'5, 120 lbs. I am in good health, except depression and anxiety that I manage. I guess you could say with my depression and anxiety, I tend to worry quite a bit about things in general. However I have been experiencing a breast rash, on the same breast, off and on for a few years (according to my friend, who says I have been complaining about this for a long time) however only within the last three months I have noticed a welt coming and going on the same breast. The welt is painful in the tissue, not to the touch, is itchy at times, and goes away with cortisone cream. When I tried a cotton bra, the welt went away but I still felt the tissue pain, as I do now. I tried another new bra that isn't cotton and the welt came back again with the pain felt in the tissue. I am seeing my primary care doctor next week. Should I worry about breast cancer, or Inflammatory Breast Cancer? Seeing a welt beneath my nipple, the size of a nickle is a worrying. Thank you for your help.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (53 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Ultrasonography, FNAC. Chances of cancer very rare and exceptional

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query and an elucidate history.
Noted your history related to the welt you are developing since last 3 months, breast rash for a few years.
Using cotton bra helped to subside the welt but tissue pain remained. Welt came back with non-cotton bra. The welt is painful but not tender. Worried about breast cancer.

Let us discuss few points:
First of all the inflammatory breast cancer is very fast growing and within the last 3 months to some years (since you are having problems) would have caused all known complications of cancer, hence this is not possible.
Secondly, cancer breasts are never painful in the first stages, can not come and go like you are experiencing and can not really appear the way you have discussed.

This may be due to the following reason:
Some sort of allergic enhancement if the tissue and the skin above.

I would advise you the following:
Clinical actual examination of the lump by a Doctor to determine clinical diagnosis.
Ultrasonography and FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) of the lump.
Mammography or MRI (if facilities available) help in differentiation.
Excision biopsy if there is a definite lump or if FNAC is suggestive of so, to determine the exact cause.
Further management as per the clinical and investigations findings.
Take care of the anxiety and stress. You really do not have to worry till the reports are available.

I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask further relevant queries if you need to or if there is a gap of communication.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (19 hours later)
Thank you, Dr., for your kind and concise reply.

Some symptoms I have noticed today includes a lump felt underneath the breast in the area where I'd had the discomfort (pain, rash, welt). Today the pain was so bad I also felt nausea. I'm not sure what causes this but I feel awful.

I do drink a lot of caffeine and I've been eating a lot of chocolate. However I still worry about all the pain, the coming and going of the welt and rash.

If cancer is not, or should not, be the main worry, what could be wrong?

I have emailed my primary with your recommendations and I am seeing him in a few days.

Thank you again.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Can be fibrocystic disease.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation.
The possible causes can be grouped together as fibrocystic disease which is not cancer and do not get converted into cancer anytime.
Anyways, too much caffeine and chocolate is not much good.

I hope this answers your query.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (10 hours later)
Hello again, Dr.,

Well, I have not been wearing a bra other than the cotton bra for a short amount of time yesterday, and this morning I woke up with a purplish streak in the same irritated area (where the rash, welt appears). I don't understand why this is happening and I'm scared it is cancer.

doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Please undergo the investigations ASAP to reduce the anxiety and stress.

Detailed Answer:
Exactly, just to understand the problems you need to undergo the investigations I have mentioned.
Please go for the tests as already advised so that we can come to the exact diagnosis and further treatment can be instituted accordingly.

Do not worry, this appears to be benign , but needs confirmation by the tests and not to be late in diagnosis since you have a problem.
This will also help you to get rid of the stress and the anxiety you are developing, which should be kept in control and it disturbs a lot.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Depression, Anxiety And Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Brief Answer: Ultrasonography, FNAC. Chances of cancer very rare and exceptional Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query and an elucidate history. Noted your history related to the welt you are developing since last 3 months, breast rash for a few years. Using cotton bra helped to subside the welt but tissue pain remained. Welt came back with non-cotton bra. The welt is painful but not tender. Worried about breast cancer. Let us discuss few points: First of all the inflammatory breast cancer is very fast growing and within the last 3 months to some years (since you are having problems) would have caused all known complications of cancer, hence this is not possible. Secondly, cancer breasts are never painful in the first stages, can not come and go like you are experiencing and can not really appear the way you have discussed. This may be due to the following reason: Some sort of allergic enhancement if the tissue and the skin above. I would advise you the following: Clinical actual examination of the lump by a Doctor to determine clinical diagnosis. Ultrasonography and FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) of the lump. Mammography or MRI (if facilities available) help in differentiation. Excision biopsy if there is a definite lump or if FNAC is suggestive of so, to determine the exact cause. Further management as per the clinical and investigations findings. Take care of the anxiety and stress. You really do not have to worry till the reports are available. I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask further relevant queries if you need to or if there is a gap of communication.