Hi, I have been here before and I have been "in remission" from Stage 2/3 Breast Cancer since 2013.
Earlier this year I had a false alarm when I discovered a lump in the same breast I had had a Lumpectomy / Radiotherapy. After a somewhat troubling experience at a major Cancer Centre where investigations were dragged out over a week, I was told that the lump I had found was "changes / scarring" from my previous treatment.
However, earlier in this month (December 2025) I noticed that there was a bruising type mark on my other breast. I thought I had knocked myself and, because of medications I take for a different health issue, I thought that the slightest knock caused bruising.
After a few days and showering, I noticed the bruising did not seem to be a bruise. Indeed it was more like a faint birth mark which was growing. Plus my breast seemed to be swelling.
I made an appointment to see my GP and, bless that surgery, they made an appointment the same day. The GP I saw decided that I may have "Mastitis". I told her that seemed strange at my age (over 70) but she said people of all ages can have Mastitis.
She prescribed me strong antibiotics with a review appointment a week later.
The antibiotics did not make any difference.
At the review appointment she did a very thorough examination and declared that she needed to refer me back to the Cancer Clinic at hospital for the doctors / consultants to examine me.
Again she gave me a prescription for different antibiotics to see if they cleared the symptoms (just in case).
My GP explained that I might have a very rare and aggressive form of Breast Cancer called "Inflamatory Breast Cancer" which has symptoms which mimic Mastitis!
I now have an appointment for investigations on 5th January 2026 at the same Cancer Cliinic which I went to earlier this year because they have my files and are the most recent cancer clinic to examine me.
What a way to start the New Year!
I am scared stiff because I have thought that I have been doing ok and trundling along with life.
I am not really sleeping all that well fretting about everything.
My daughter is getting married in May to her fiance who she has a little boy with but is also expecting a little baby due to be born in April (unexpected/unplanned but a magical gift from Heaven).
If my symptoms turn out to be this nasty type of cancer and I have to face aggressive treatment, I am not sure I will be able to cope with treatment, the new baby plus the wedding and spoil my daughter and her fiances wonderful year!
Hi Rusty53x
Welcome to the forum, I'm Daisy53 one of the Community Champions on this forum. I'm sorry to hear that you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis for the second time as you said what a way to start the New Year, and that you finding it hard to sleep. Easy to say I know, but try to keep busy over the next few days while you are waiting for your appointment. Hopefully it won't turn out to be inflamatory breast cancer but if it does it will most likely turn out to be very treatable, treatments for breast cancer have improved greatly since you last had breast cancer.
If you feel up to it why not give the helpline a ring on 0808 808 0000 to talk to someone about your fears about coping with any treatment that you may need.
Wishing you the best of luck with your appointment next week.
Best wishes
Daisy53
