Are you at Risk for Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory Breast Cancer, known as IBC, is a highly aggressive form of cancer often misdiagnosed or missed on mammograms. Thankfully the disease is rare, but because so little is known about it, even within the medical community, awareness is critical. According to the National Cancer Institute it accounts for one to five percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States.

Here are the symptoms, and they can vary from person to person; the disease can occur in men. The symptoms may appear overnight. Redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast are often noted. In fact many people confuse it with a bug bite. However IBC can be active without a distinct lump in the breast. The skin of the breast may appear as pink, reddish purple, or bruised. One may also find ridges or skin that appears pitted, like the skin of an orange. Often the breast may feel heavy with burning and aching, even an increase in size. Sometimes the nipple can be inverted- or inside out. Swollen lymph nodes may also be noticed in the armpit or below the collarbone. These symptoms, of course, could also be signs of another disease including infection or another form of breast cancer.

Diagnosis is key, of course, and can only be done by a doctor in a clinical setting. Biopsy, mammography and ultrasound are used to confirm diagnosis.

How is IBC treated? Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and hormonal treatments are often employed.

What is the prognosis for IBC? The disease is more likely to have metastasized (or spread) than most forms of breast cancer. As a result, the five-year survival rate is only 25 to 50 percent. That number is grim when compared to non-IBC related breast cancer. These statistics however can be a bit misleading because they are based on a large number of patients. Only sound medical advice and assessment can determine the prognosis in any particular case.

There are some very good resources available.

The National Cancer Institute is a good place to start.

The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation is also comprehensive.

Both of these sites are easy to find in a google search.

The publication of this article is for informational purposes to raise awareness only and is not a substitute for sound medical advice.