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When Jennifer Cordts first spotted a rash on her breast in early 2015, she thought it might be sunburn or irritation from her bra.
She never expected to hear the words: terminal breast cancer.
At first the mother-of-two, then 45, ignored it, assured by the fact that a mammogram showed nothing.
Her gynecologist suggested her bra might be too small, so she replaced her underwear. Her doctor suggested it might be inflammation, so she took antibiotics. But nothing helped. She battled for 11 months to find an explanation.
Eventually, she found a specialist to conduct an MRI scan - and it revealed incurable stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer.
In that time, the disease had spread from her breast and lymph nodes to her bones and liver. Cordts was given three to five years to live.
Now the Rockwall, Texas, mother wants to share her story to help others spot the aggressive cancer before it is too late and to encourage people to always to push for more answers.
Jennifer Cordts, 46, was shocked to learn what her doctor said was a rash, was actually terminal inflammatory breast cancer. The first symptom was a reddish and pink mark on one of her breasts
The mother-of-two from Rockwall, Texas, (pictured before her battle with her two daughters) fought with healthcare professionals for 11 months who insisted her fears were unfounded until her test results came back positive for stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer
When asked would her circumstances be different if the initial doctor had listened to her concerns from the start, Cordts sighed.
She added: 'To be honest, I haven't asked that but I know the answer. I know how cancer works.
'If we had worked faster there still could be hope for me. I'd live longer if they had caught it earlier, but that isn't my journey.
'But it can be the next person's journey. That's why I'm sharing my story.'
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In early 2015, Cordts noticed a small pink and red rash on one of her breasts. It didn't have any bumps nor was it causing pain, but she decided to pay a visit to her doctor.
She recalled: 'He just kind of said, 'I don't see what you see.' And I was like, 'If you aren't worried than I'm not either.'
Cordts went home reassured and put the mark on the back of her mind, but in the following weeks she knew something was very wrong.
Searing pain spread behind her breast and shot down her arm, but her mammogram and blood work came back fine.
An initial visit to the doctor diagnosed the mark as a simple skin rash that was perhaps brought on because her bras were too small. However, when it started causing pain, she knew something was very wrong. Pictured: Cordts left before her diagnosis and right with her 18-year-old daughter after she began treatment
Inflammatory breast cancer is rare and only makes up one percent of all cases in the United States. It is aggressive and spreads quickly, usually worsening within days or even hours. Pictured: Cordts with her seven-year-old daughter as her hair began to grow back
At one point, Cordts Googled her discolored skin and the dreaded result came back as inflammatory breast cancer.
Eventually, Cordts pushed her way to see the top breast specialist in Dallas who confirmed her fears in November 2015.
Small Eczema Patch On Breast
The aggressive disease had spread from her breast and lymph nodes to her bones and also to her liver. The cancer is incurable once it reaches that organ.
Small Red Scaly Patch On Breastfeeding
SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER
Redness of the breast: Redness involving part or all of the breast is a hallmark of the cancer. Sometimes the redness comes and goes.
Swelling of the breast: Part of or all of the breast may be swollen, enlarged, and hard.
Warmth: The breast may feel warm.
Orange-peel appearance: Your breast may swell and start to look like the peel of a navel orange (this is called 'peau d'orange').
Other skin changes: The skin of the breast might look pink or bruised, or you may have what looks like ridges, welts, or hives on your breast.
Swelling of lymph nodes: The lymph nodes under your arm or above the collarbone may be swollen.
Flattening or inversion of the nipple: The nipple may go flat or turn inward.
Aching or burning: Your breast may ache or feel tender.
Cordts has two daughters, a seven-year-old and an 18-year-old college student. The mother is using her painful journey to help teach them to take an active role in their health.
She said: 'Going to the doctor is scary. Going to the doctor with what you think is cancer is terrifying. I'm teaching them to advocate for themselves and to push harder for answers.
'I have no regrets. I was on top of my healthcare but I could have demanded more answers.
'I was told in order to have an MRI, I needed to go through six weeks of physical therapy for my back first.
'If I had maybe pushed harder, that is six less weeks the cancer could have been spreading throughout my body.'
She revealed that her first doctor was informed of his misdiagnosis, and although at the time Cordts was unable to speak to him, she has since asked him to further educate himself on rare breast cancers.
She added: 'I'm hoping I'll be a learning experience for him and other physicians who have never seen this before.'
For now, Cordts' cancer has seen improvement in her breast and bones after a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.
Although the medicine can't cure the cancer, it can slow it from spreading and give her more time.
Cordts (pictured with her husband and children on a recent trip to a beach) said her first doctor was informed of his misdiagnosis and she hopes he further educates himself on rare breast cancers
The wife and mother is in and out of hospitals and appointments for scans, tests and therapy to help her through the difficult time.
Cordts said: 'I feel like I'm there every other day. I try and purposely forget about it but my anxiety comes back right before the results.
'My scan comes back Friday so I'm at the peak of the roller coaster.'
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer and only makes up about one percent of cases in the United States.
It usually begins with redness or swelling rather than a distinct lump. It grows and spreads quickly, usually worsening within days or even hours.
Other warning signs of regular breast cancer include skin texture changes, such as skin that feels grainy or has an 'orange peel' appearance, puckering or thickening, rashes around the nipple, discharge, as well as changes in the size and shape of the breast, pain in the breast and armpit and dilated, more visible veins.
It took 11 months to properly diagnose Cordts (pictured right after shaving her head and left with friend after treatment had begun). She said: 'If we had worked faster there still could be hope for me. I'd live longer if they had caught it earlier, but that isn't my journey. 'But it can be the next person's journey. That's why I'm sharing my story'
There are eight key signs of breast cancer, including a change in size or shape, redness or a rash on the skin, a lump or thickening and a change in skin texture, such as puckering or dimpling
Furthermore, women should check for discharge from the nipple, a swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone, an inverted nipple and constant pain in a breast or armpit