Has anyone else had any bruising on their breast? I seem to be getting them and don't know why. ??

Hi Diane,
I haven't had
Hi Diane,

I haven't had surgery yet, so I can't directly answer your question. And I don't want to scare you, but bruising can be a symptom of Inflammatory Breast Cancer, especially if it doesn't seem to go away. If that's the case, don't wait to see your doc, and insist on a skin biopsy. The skin biopsy is the only way to diagnose IBC.

Again, I don't want to scare you. It is entirely possible that I am overly sensitive to the topic, since that was my dx.

Best of luck to you, and I hope you don't have to wait long.

Hugs,

Linda

Rague said:

Call your DR!
I have to agree - talk to your DR NOW - not in months. IBC is very aggressive and can literally develope within days. That being said at this point there is no reason at all to assume the worst that is why you need to talk with your DR ASAP - there are many other possibilities. Good Bless and prayers!

Susan

Diane .. Please please please call your doctor .. asap
leave message with his service this week end if possible. Calling Monday a.m. for an appointment this Monday or Tuesday ... and I would sit in the office or on the phone until my doctor or doctors squeezed me in.. just me tho.

Please let us know what's going on.. we are worried!

Strength and Courage:-)

Vicki Sam

CypressCynthia said:

I am so glad that you are
I am so glad that you are seeing someone tomorrow. Please let us know. You are in my prayers and I have my fingers crossed that it is something benign.

Yes, good luck with your
Yes, good luck with your appointment and let us know. Sending prayers!


Sue

DianeBC said:

You are all so sweet! I did
You are all so sweet! I did call and have an appointment set up for Monday. This is the second set of bruises I have had since the last lumpectomy. The first ones went away, but, then I got these new ones. They do look like bruises, but, dark red, and, are on the incision area. I wake up with them, so, I might be sleeping wrong or doing something at night to make this bruising.

Thank you for your concern and advice! I love you all and will let you know what my surgeon says.


Hugs, Diane

Good that you called your
Good that you called your doctor and can get in to see him. Adding my prayers and good luck.

Hugs, Leeza

bruising
I mentioned I bruise very easily now...to oncolo. she didn't say much! She didnt'seem oncerned!

Sorry you had to have second surgery-happy it was not cancer

DianeBC said:

Saw my doctor today and he
Saw my doctor today and he said that they are just bruises, purplish looking, but, just bruises. He said that since it is happening at night, that I am probably doing something at night that caused this. I do sleep on my stomach with my arms under me, so, that is very possible. He said that my body is still healing and that it wouldn't take much to bruise since I just had a 2nd lumpectomy and had a lot of rads too. If they don't go away, I am to call him right away. The last time I had these bruises, they went away after awhile, so, we will see. I was just worried and wondered if anyone else had this happen. I feel somewhat relieved, but, still not real confident.

Thank you all for your replies! You are so great to turn to when I am scared.


Love, Diane

Glad you saw Dr.
I am glad you were able to see the Dr. so fast. Glad he does not think it is anything to worry about, sorry you are still not confident about it. I will pray that the bruises go away soon and do not come back. God Bless
(((Hugs))) Janice

DianeBC said:

Saw my doctor today and he
Saw my doctor today and he said that they are just bruises, purplish looking, but, just bruises. He said that since it is happening at night, that I am probably doing something at night that caused this. I do sleep on my stomach with my arms under me, so, that is very possible. He said that my body is still healing and that it wouldn't take much to bruise since I just had a 2nd lumpectomy and had a lot of rads too. If they don't go away, I am to call him right away. The last time I had these bruises, they went away after awhile, so, we will see. I was just worried and wondered if anyone else had this happen. I feel somewhat relieved, but, still not real confident.

Thank you all for your replies! You are so great to turn to when I am scared.


Love, Diane

I can see as a tummy sleeper
I can see as a tummy sleeper how you might be bruising because of the pressure. I have a suggestion. Find one of those flat foam kids pillow and put it under your breasts so it is a buffer between your arms and breasts. I am a tummy sleeper and used this when I had my hysterectomy between my tummy and the bed. It provides a great cushion.
Glad that they feel this is the cause and don't hesitate even a moment if they don't go away or if you have any other issues. They are our doctors and work for us. And they want us to see them or call them when we have problems.
Stef

DianeBC said:

I do take a lot of Ibuprofen
I do take a lot of Ibuprofen Cynthia. My oncologist never even asked if I did. I will stop taking it for awhile, and, see if the bruising gets better. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.


And, thanks Stef for telling me about the pillows. I will try anything to not bruise like this. It does scare me.


Diane

I have quit taking NSAIDS a
I have quit taking NSAIDS a few days before and after my infusion because I noticed that I was having huge bruises everywhere that I was stuck for the IV. Now, no more bruising!

Here is more info about bruising and another link--because I just can't help myself ;-)

"Why do bruises occur more frequently in some people than in others?

The injury required to produce a bruise varies with age. While it may take quite a bit of force to cause a bruise in a young child, even minor bumps and scrapes may cause extensive bruising or ecchymosis in an elderly person. Blood vessels become more fragile as we age, and bruising may even occur without prior injury in the elderly.

The amount of bruising may also be affected by medications which interfere with blood clotting (and thus cause more bleeding into the skin or tissues). These drugs include many prescription arthritis medications called nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (for example, ibuprofen [Advil, Nuprin] and naproxen [Aleve]) as well as over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin. Warfarin (Coumadin) is often prescribed by doctors specifically to prevent clotting in patients who have had blood clots in their legs or heart. Warfarin can cause particularly severe bruising, especially if the level of the medication becomes too high. Cortisone medications, such as prednisone, promote bruising by increasing the fragility of the tiny blood vessels in the skin. In addition, patients with inherited clotting problems (such as in hemophilia) or acquired clotting problems (such as in patients with liver diseases like cirrhosis), can develop extensive bruising or even life-threatening bleeding."

Bruises