Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

 

Breast changes occur in almost all women. Most of these changes are not cancerous. However, some breast changes may be signs of cancer. Breast cancer usually occurs in the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). Because of this many women (even if they have heard that they should be looking for any suspicious symptoms or changes) focus on finding a lump. Most women think that they are knowledgeable about breast cancer i.e. they should look for a lump, go to the doctor and have a mammogram.

 

What you should know is that there is another kind of cancer called inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Inflammatory breast cancer isn't caused by an inflammation or infection. This is a rare type of cancer, in which breast cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast.

 

Inflammatory breast cancer generally grows rapidly, changes can become visible within days or weeks and the cancer cells often spread to other parts of the body. Unlike with other types of breast cancer, there is usually no distinct lump. Instead, inflammatory breast cancer tends to develop as a sheet (nest) rather than a lump or tumour. Because the lymph vessels are blocked by cancer cells, the breast becomes red, swollen, and warm. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, purple, or bruised. It may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange). Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive type of locally situated cancer that occurs in a very small percentage of women. It is often diagnosed in women at a younger age than those diagnosed with other forms of breast cancer. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is more likely to cause spreading (metastasis) to other parts of the body.

 

Since very often no lump can be felt, and the area of concern may not show up on a mammogram, IBC can be difficult to diagnose. The signs and symptoms can be easily mistaken for a breast infection (mastitis). Contrary to IBC, breast infections cause a fever, and they can be easily treated with antibiotics. In some cases, redness, warmth and swelling of the breast are caused by a previous operation or radiation therapy that involved the outer breast or underarm. These procedures can cause partial blockage of lymphatic drainage, producing breast swelling (edema) and redness but are not inflammatory breast cancer.

 

Because the symptoms can mimic the above mentioned conditions some women have never heard of pain, discoloration, tissue thickening associated with breast cancer and so they ignore the changes in their breast and do not mention it to their doctors because they are embarrassed.

Although this type of cancer is uncommon, every woman should know about it because the best way to catch IBC in its early stages is to know the symptoms and to know your own breasts. No one knows your breasts better than you.

If you notice any of the signs or symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, do not wait, see a doctor immediately.

If being treated for a breast infection (mastitis), but the signs and symptoms last longer than a week after starting antibiotics, imaging diagnosis of the breast or a breast biopsy should be performed. If these test results show no signs of cancer, but the signs and symptoms appear to be getting worse a breast specialist should examine your breast and another biopsy may be needed.

 

The most common symptoms of IBC include: rapid increase in breast size in one breast; breast tenderness; breast firmness; redness; skin hot to the touch; an inverted nipple; persistent itching; thickening of tissue and stabbing pain; flattening or retraction of the nipple; swollen or crusted skin on the nipple; and/or change in color of the skin around the nipple (areola). Additionally, enlarged lymph nodes under the arm, above or below the collarbone may occur.

Inflammatory breast cancer is diagnosed base on the results of a breast biopsy. If biopsy results confirm IBC, the next step is to determine to which stage the cancer has advanced. Inflammatory breast cancer is aggressive and tends to be advanced by the time a woman seeks medical treatment. Additional tests, such as a chest X-ray, computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest and abdomen, and bone scan, to check for the presence of cancer cells in other parts of the body (metastasis) should also be performed.

 

Sourses

IBC Research Foundation

National Cancer Institute 

Mayo Clinic

The Komen Foundation