Inflammatory Breast Cancer

The image above is an example of obvious signs and symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer displaying the swollen breast, redness, inverted nipple and peau d'orange (orange-peel texture).

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is one of the least common types of breast cancer which more commonly affects African Americans than any other ethnic group. IBC is an advanced and accelerated form of breast cancer usually not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds. It is, in fact, the most aggressive form of breast cancer. Treatment is different from the more common types of breast cancer, where surgery is usually performed with chemotherapy, prior to surgery, in order to reduce the size of the breast and eliminate other symptoms. Signs and symptoms observed closely resemble a benign (non-cancerous) infection like Mastitis than expected signs and symptoms of breast cancer types.

Despite its name, inflammatory breast cancer isn't caused by an inflammation or infection. Inflammatory breast cancer occurs when cancer cells clog the lymphatic vessels in the skin overlying the breast. The blockage in the lymphatic vessels causes the red, swollen and dimpled skin that's a known sign of inflammatory breast cancer.

Typical Symptoms of IBC:

• swelling, usually sudden, sometimes a cup size in a few days
• itching
• pink, red, or dark coloured area sometimes with texture similiar to the skin of an orange.
• a bruise that doesn't go away
• nipple retraction (nipple is drawn inwards).
• nipple discharge, may or may not be bloody.
• breast is warm to the touch
• breast pain (from a constant ache to stabbing pains).
• change in colour and texture of the areola.

Some women who have IBC may remain undiagnosed for long periods, even while seeing their doctor to learn the cause of her symptoms. The symptoms are similar to mastitis, a breast infection and some doctors, not recognizing IBC, will prescribe antibiotics. If there is no response to antibiotics after a week, a biopsy should be performed or you may be referred to a breast specialist.
IBC has been diagnosed in very young women. An unexpected portion of young women with IBC had their first symptoms during pregnancy and lactation. Although young women are normally at lower risk for breast cancer, the fact that IBC is more aggressive than most forms of breast cancer, this type of cancer progresses to about stage IV by the time of diagnosis, when the cancer has already began to spread.
Some reasons why IBC is not detected as soon as it should:

1. Each case of IBC is different in each individual so there may be some signs but not others.
2. Sign and symptoms are comparable to a relatively minor breast infection.
3. Some women and men who are diagnosed with IBC are misdiagnosed initially.
4. IBC can diffuse through the breast without palpable (capable of being touched or felt) mass.

Note:
Inflammatory Breast Cancer is typically abbreviated as IBC. Non-inflammatory breast cancer may include in its diagnosis the terms "in situ breast cancer," "infiltrating breast cancer," or "invasive breast cancer" all of which may be abbreviated with "ibc," but those terms alone do not specify inflammatory breast cancer. To add to the possible confusion, the diagnosis may include more that one kind of breast cancer; for example "inflammatory breast cancer, invasive ductal carcinoma, and mucinous carcinoma" all in the same breast. So if a person you know has been described as having IBC or ibc, it may be well to ask what that is abbreviating, since it may not be "inflammatory breast cancer" and therefore the symptoms and other information presented here may not apply.