What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is an advanced and accelerated form of breast cancer automatically staged as IIIB (within the range of Stage I to Stage IV) that usually is not detected by mammograms or ultrasounds. It is aggressive and is usually treated with chemotherapy before surgery and then radiotherapy.

 In IBC, the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast and as a result, the breast looks inflamed (hence the disease’s name).  It can grow in nests or sheets, rather than as a confined, solid tumour; and therefore, it can be diffuse throughout the breast with no palpable mass.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer!

Symptoms develop suddenly and can include redness and swelling of the breast, which feels warm.  The breast may itch and be painful.  The skin may be ridged or pitted, described as 'peau d'orange' (resembling the skin of an orange).  There may be some thickening in the breast but a lump is not the most common symptom. 

These symptoms can also occur with benign breast disorders.  However, because of the similarities in symptoms, IBC can be  misdiagnosed as Mastitis. The normal treatment for Mastitis is a course of antibiotics.  If there is no response to the antibiotics within 5 days, then the case should be immediately referred to a Breast Specialist for further investigation in case it is IBC.

Because with IBC the cancer is in the lymph vessels, it can spread quickly to other areas of the body.  It is therefore crucial that it is diagnosed quickly so that treatment can be given - chemotherapy is usually started within days of the diagnosis to control the disease and its spread.  This helps to give patients the best possible chance. 

Women have been positively conditioned to the fact that when a woman discovers a lump in her breast she should go to the doctor immediately, BUT how many people know that  

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer!

So if you experience any of these symptoms, please make sure a doctor examines you immediately and that you are referred if there is not a speedy improvement in your condition.