Tears and Rainbows: Ginny Mason, Cancer Advocate

A painful, but wonderful story.  Thank you for sharing it.

What a great story, Phyllis. Ginny's experience with cancer truly changed her life - and I'm sure the lives of many other IBC survivors, who maybe wouldn't have survived without her advocacy. Thanks for sharing this here. And thanks for sharing the same path with Ginny, as you inspire women with IBC to do what you're doing: survive, thrive, and reach out a hand to help others. PJH

Thank you Phyllis for a wonderfully written story about a wonderful woman  who not only has been instrumental in creating a network of support for women dealing with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, but who is on the front lines of the fight to find a cure! When my wife was diagnosed with IBC in 2004, thanks to Ginny and Owen, there was a place online to get information and to connect with others fighting the same disease and for that I am very grateful.

I have recently been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer.  I quickly developed a palpable, painful lump which was covered by discolored (red-to-purple) skin which became very thick and "leathery" feeling.  Lump became painful so I went to doctor who thought it was a cyst and ordered a diagnostic mammogram.  Long story short, I was told it was invasive ductal and I had lympectomy which revealed 5/19 positive for cancer. I had PET scan and breast MRI which both indicated significant finding of "skin involvement which can be seen in inflammatory breast cancer." 

I'm wondering now if I have IBC as well as invasive ductal carcinoma.

Has anyone had this experience.  I fear my doctor totally missed the IBC piece of my cancer.  I have discussed with my oncologist and the good news is that the treatment is the same since I was a Stage III but I'm angry and frustrated that I may have been misdiagnosed. 

My cancer is responding to my chemo treatments which have been every 2 weeks for a total of 8 treatments to be followed by mastectomy and then 30 radiation treatments.

i have went too the 2 times with the sores on my breast first there where only two now there are three . my breast feels very heavy and its just too umcomfortable too wear a bra. i am not sure what too do i have no insurance i am not working. and i just feel helpless. i have a daughter expected a baby in feb and i dont want too start any chem if it would hurt her or the baby. she has lost 4 already and she seems too be doing great with this pregancy. Can you tell me what it could be. your story seems so much like mine , i am 46 .