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What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
"Aggressive, deadly and often misdiagnosed, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most lethal form of primary breast cancer, often striking women in their prime and causing death within 18 to 24 months." source
“The tragedy of IBC is that it is often misdiagnosed and misclassified. Rather than presenting as a ‘typical’ lump, IBC looks like an inflammation of the breast and is frequently mistaken for an infection. Physicians often prescribe antibiotics, losing valuable time for treating this fast-moving killer,” says Dr. Schneider, noting that IBC accounts for several percent of all breast cancer cases but takes a high toll on mortality, with an incidence that is 50 percent higher in African American women. He adds that there has been little progress in treating IBC over the past two decades, and there are no drugs specifically for this form of cancer. “In fact, IBC has only recently been recognized as a unique, genetically distinct form of breast cancer.”
Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)?
Inflammatory breast cancer does not necessarily have a defined lump. Typically, this type of breast cancer grows as nests or sheets within or around the breast area. Often the symptoms for IBC are mistaken for a rash and/or infection of some sort and in some cases, it has been diagnosed as an abnormal cyst.
- One breast larger than the other.
- Pain in the breast.
- Skin texture resembles an orange peel in the breast area (peau d'orange).
- On light pigmentation you may find pink or reddish areas on the breast.
- On darker pigmentation you may find reddish undertones areas on the breast.
- Possible bruising appearance that doesn't go away.
- Constant swelling of the breast.
- Itching of the breast.
- Extreme sensitivity of the breast.
- Inverted or flattened nipple or irregular discharge from nipple.
- Pain under the arm from swelling of the lymph nodes or around the neck.
- Irregular warm feeling of breast (feverish).
- Sharp and piercing irregular pains in the breast.
*Please note that IBC is very aggressive and these symptoms could occur very quickly
What to do???
If you believe you may have any of the symptoms of IBC, please request a skin punch biopsy of the breast and/or referral to a breast specialist or cancer treatment facility immediately. If you feel your current doctor is not believing and/or supporting you, DON’T GIVE UP, keep persisting until it could be proven otherwise.
*Please be advised that KSIBCF does not provide medical referrals or medical advice. Please consult your doctor or contact a reputable cancer treatment facility.
