Inflammatory breast cancer facts and pictures

What is inflammatory breast cancer?

Inflammatory breast cancer is a locally advanced cancer. This type is rare but very aggressive. The cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. It called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks red and swollen. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) probably accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the USA. The cancer tends to be diagnosed in younger age, more in African Americans than in Whites women compared to non-IBC breast cancer.

IBC can occur in men too, but in very low percentage and usually at an older age than in women. Some research has shown a connection between family history of breast cancer and IBC, but more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions. Inflammatory breast cancer can easily be confused with a breast infection. Seek medical attention promptly if you notice skin changes on your breast, to help distinguish a breast infection from inflammatory breast cancer.

How is IBC different from common breast cancer?

When a woman already considered as IBS patient, usually the cancer has already at least stage 3B when it is first diagnosed, and may be stage 4 if it has extend to other organs of the body. IBC tends to grow more aggressively and rapidly than other types of breast cancer. Because IBC is always diagnosed at a high stage, it is often difficult to treat successfully than other types of breast cancer.
IBC symptoms rarely cause a breast lump, and it may not show up on an x-ray result. Because it doesn’t look like a typical breast cancer, it can be more difficult to diagnose.

What are the symptoms of IBC?

In IBS, the invasion of the local lymphatic ducts impairs drainage and causes edematous swelling

of the breast. Because the skin of the breast is tethered by the suspensory ligament of Cooper, the accumulation of fluid may cause the skin of the breast to assume a dimpled appearance similar to an orange peel (peau d’orange). In the case of IBC, a lump is usually not present as in other form of breast cancer. Symptoms to look for can be one or many of the following:

• Breast skin changes
• Breast pain
• Bruise that does not go away
• Breast itching
• Nipple discharge or retraction
• Peau d’orange
• Breast sudden swelling
• Unusual warmth of the affected breast
• Swelling of lymph nodes under the arm or in the neck

Other symptoms may include:

• Breast decreases instead of increasing
• Swelling of the arm
• A lump may become present and grow rapidly

How is the IBC diagnosed?

Procedures and tests used to diagnose inflammatory breast cancer include:

• A physical exam. The doctor will examine patient breast to look for redness and other signs of inflammatory breast cancer.
• Imaging tests. The doctor may recommend a breast mammogram test or a breast ultrasound to look for signs of cancer in your breast.
• Removing a sample of tissue for testing. The tissue is analyzed in a laboratory to look for signs of inflammatory breast cancer.

How is IBC treated?

The treatment of inflammatory breast cancer consisting of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and surgery is used to treat IBC. Patients may also receive supportive care to help manage the negative effects of the cancer and its treatment.

• Chemotherapy is generally the first treatment for patients with inflammatory breastcancer, and is called neoadjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy is systemic treatment, which means that it exposed to the cells throughout the body. The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells, including those metastasized one.


Peau d'orange

• Surgery and radiation therapy to the chest wall may be chosen after chemotherapy. The goal of surgery is to remove the breast cancer tumor from the body, while the purpose of radiation therapy is to destroy remaining cancer cells. Both radiation and surgery are local treatments that affect only cells in the tumor and the immediately surrounding area.
• Supportive care is treatment given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. It prevents or treats as early as possible the symptoms of the disease, side effects caused by treatment of the disease, and psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to the disease or its treatment.