I had a lump for 10 years from Jan 1990 and i did nothing about it. It was diagnosed as breast cancer in 1999. I decided not to have chemo radiation etc. If i had known then what I know now I would have started to do a number of things immediatly. Ignorance must lead to education. I would...........

Recognise that my body is telling me that energy isn't flowing there and that tumours can arise from accumulated toxicity (from many sources- drugs,, excess alcohol, cigarettes, radiation from TVs computers, pesticides, preservatives in already prepared foods, formaldehyde from new synthetic carpets etc. It can also arise after the natural rhythm of becoming pregnant is halted by abortion etc All sorts of stagnant emotions, like grief, sadness, anger  and mental concepts, beliefs etc can also contribute as well as not really 'flowing' and doing what you love and what makes your heart sing in this life.

I would change my diet immediatly to include good, organic, live, vibrant fruit, vegetables and salads.and fresh made organic veg juices (carrot is great or carrot and celery) I would include Flax Oil/Quark diet by Johanna Budwig as it brings living electrons into the body to handle all the 'not so good fats' I would ensure right fibre, organic rice, beans etc and cut out all meat (maybe on occassion some organic) because the Liver can't handle it. When the liver is toxic it can't absorb oils but the OIL/Protein diet of Dr Johanna Budwig is handled well as it's made watersoluble by using quark/cottage cheese.

I would clean out my physical system- liver and gall bladder flush, kidney cleanse after that, keep my bowels clean (use organic coffee enemas regularly as per The Gerson Diet) clean, get rid of any candida, parasites, We usually know what's right!

I would begin to bring good qualities into my life- cultivate those that I know are weak or lacking in my system. I Would meditate regularly under supervision and cultivate virtues like, harmony, balance, peace, compassion, courage, perseverence and so on (all virtues of the heart)

I would learn to let go of fear, worry,guilt, grief, hatred, anger -in fact all the lower emotions. All are an illusion anyway (in particular fear) and guilt - shame hangs around most people for silly things usually. Why put yourself in prison? 

I would have a good look at what death is as most fears are bottom line fear of death.

I would go out there and do what I have always wanted to. I would study and learn and join others for inspiration, joy etc.

I would laugh at least twice a day and sing- definitely sing. The Angels gave us the tonic solfa so that we can harmonise our bodies- it is said! . I would listen to beautiful music, dance if i wanted to, play, create and EXPRESS that which is trying to be expressed. 

I would meditate on what my purpose in life was and maybe join others in such lofty searches.

I would begin little projects with myself like - looking at what peopl'es REAL needs are and how they can be addressed locally at first and then globally. Foe example I know we are all wondering what REAL unconditional love is like .

You can add your own

Have fun

Take responsibility for your health.

Remember your body isn't failing you and your body isn't DOING anything to you. It is creating a tumour for your survival so you can clear your system.

God (or whatever name we give God)- this energy is in all of us and is accessible by all of us. It is a healing energy but sometimes we in physical form have to undo the things that our bodies are talking about.

Blessings all

I agree,  Keep pursuing this.  I hope it is just mastitis, but warm, skin changes, nipple changes, discoloration, and dimpling can also be signs of inflammatory breast cancer.  Also swelling, rash and skin thickening.  Many doctors are not familiar with IBC.  Get another opinion ASAP.  Specifically ask about inflammatory breast cancer. 

I started seeing signs of IBC while I was taking chemo and radiation for my initial diagnosis of IDC.  I was the first one to mention could it possibly be IBC -- even before my doctors suspected it.  Everyone (my surgeon, my medical oncologist, and my radiation oncologist) were just sure that all of my symptoms were just side effects from my radiation and since I was in active treatment, it just couldn't be IBC.   I kept pushing it and finally had a punch biopsy and an excisional biopsy and guess what?  It was IBC.

Don't let this drop.  Hope it is not cancer, but if it is, better to find out sooner than later.  Especially if it is IBC because it is really aggressive and spreads fast.  Good luck and keep us posted on how things are going.

Pittbullwife -- anything new??

Having your PCP bailing on you might be a good thing.  A different doc might be more aggressive.  Did they tell you what they believe the lumps are if they think they are benign?  Another thing you can do is ask the office or nurse for copies of your records.  Any test results or doc notes.  I routinely get copies of mine so I can review them at home.  I forget so many things that the doc tells me when I'm there in the office.

It sure seems like two courses of antibiotics should have caused the redness to subside by now if it's mastitis.  But that's just a guess on my part.  I still believe you need an MRI to rule out lobular cancer.  And it would be a good thing to do right now for a baseline even if you don't have any cancer.  Once you have a "problem" breast it would be good to have the baseline if any future problems show up.

Keep us informed.

Please give us an update from the Monday visit.

I'm sorry you had to go through surgery but so far that is excellent news!  I hope we hear back on Monday that everything is OK and no bc!.

I had been wondering how you were doing so I was glad to see your update.  I'm pulling for you on the path results.