It usually begins as a general redness in the breast. It is generally firm and hard, and does not feel tender. This type of cancer requires aggressive treatment. To find out if your condition is an inflammatory breast cancer, take a photo of the affected breast. It is also helpful to document how much swelling or redness there is.
Typically, IBC symptoms develop in three to six months of the initial diagnosis, and they tend to worsen over the following weeks to months. Inflammatory breast cancer is a cancer that affects both men and women, but the majority of cases occur in women. Symptoms can also include enlarged lymph nodes. While men can develop this type of breast cancer, it affects mostly women. Inflammatory breast cancer is also known as stage II or invasive cancer.
Treatment for inflammatory breast cancer will vary according to the type of cancer you have and your response to treatments. Your healthcare team will develop a treatment plan that will address your symptoms, your overall health, and the stage of your cancer. The first step in treatment for inflammatory breast cancer is chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells in the breast as well as anywhere else in the body. Chemotherapy is usually given before breast surgery, and afterward, as needed.
Inflammatory breast cancer will likely be treated in a multidisciplinary setting. During the initial stage of disease, your doctor will likely order multiple tests to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the disease. In addition to undergoing surgery, the doctor will also recommend other treatments. For women who are newly diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, a multidisciplinary approach is crucial. It will include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and specialized imaging.
When you develop an IBC, you may have an enlarged, firm, and painful breast. It is important to seek medical attention quickly if you feel any of these symptoms. If your symptoms worsen or your breast lump gets larger, you should contact a breast surgeon for a diagnosis. You should discuss any changes with your doctor and consider getting a mammogram. If the redness persists, it is most likely an infection. If you suspect an inflammatory breast cancer, a biopsy is required.
Inflammatory breast cancer affects about one percent to five percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States. Black women have a higher risk than white women. Men are also at higher risk. This type of cancer has an unusually high incidence in black women. Interestingly, men also can develop this type of cancer. This type of cancer tends to develop at a younger age than women. It’s also more likely to develop in obese people than women.
The most effective treatment for inflammatory breast cancer depends on the severity of the disease. Breast imaging tests may show abnormalities in the breast. A biopsy will confirm the diagnosis of IBC. A small sample of tissue from the affected breast will be removed under local anesthesia for lab testing. A doctor may also order a breast biopsy if it suspects an inflammation breast cancer. Once an IBC has reached stage IV, it may have spread to other organs. One in three cases, the cancer has spread to other organs.
