Breast Cancer Early Warning Sign - Breast Redness

Don't just assume the red, swollen patch on your breast is bra burn, heat rash or a bug bite. It could be an early warning sign of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer first presents with breast redness, which is often ignored or chalked up to some other minor malady. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form of cancer, and once breast redness has presented, diagnosis and treatment should be done without delay.

How Inflammatory Breast Cancer Attacks

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of cancer and accounts for at least 10 percent of all newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. In cases of IBC, the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the breast skin, causing the area to look inflamed and feel warm. There is rarely ever a lump(s) in the inflamed area, which is the main reason why IBC goes undiagnosed in the early stages Women have been taught to search for lumps to indicate a potential problem. No lumps, no problem, and the breast redness is treated with a topical ointment at home instead of seeking medical attention because it is not what women expect breast cancer to be.

Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

An inexplicable redness anywhere on the breast that is also swollen and feels warm to the touch. The breast skin may also appear pink, purplish-red and look bruised. The skin may have ridges or tiny dimples that resemble an orange peel, caused from the fluid buildup in the breast due to the lymphatic drainage system being blocked by cancer cells. Lumps may also crop up under the arm and/or below the collar bone due to the cancer cells blocking the lymph nodes and causing fluid buildup in these areas.

Inverted nipple, heaviness, aching, burning and tenderness of the breast are also symptoms of IBC. Symptoms of IBC will come on suddenly for no apparent reason.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is made by an initial physician's exam, followed by a mammogram, ultrasound and/or biopsy to confirm or refute the initial diagnosis. Often a week of oral antibiotics will be prescribed while awaiting testing or test results just in case it's an infection rather than breast cancer.

Inflammatory breast cancer is aggressive and must be treated aggressively once it is diagnosed. Treatment may consist of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, radiation and/or hormonal therapy. An oncologist will determine the right course of treatment for each inflammatory breast cancer case.

Source: Inflammatory Breast Cancer