What You Need to Know About Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

Inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC, is a rare form of cancer, accounting for only one to three percent of all breast cancers. It can be a very aggressive. The sad thing is, not many people are even aware of this disease. This is because it is not like "traditional" breast cancer. It cannot usually be detected by an ultrasound of mammogram and the symptoms are different from other forms of breast cancer. Many times, the disease goes undetected or is misdiagnosed. By the time it is discovered, it is too late. All this could change if patients and doctors were more aware of the disease.

IBC varies greatly from other forms of breast cancer. IBC causes the breast to appear swollen or inflamed. Often times, this is mistaken for bug bites of mastitis. The inflammation occurs because the cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast causing a blockage in lymph flow. This leads to the reddened, inflamed appearance of the breast. Also, IBC rarely presents as a lump. Instead, the cancer grows as nests or sheets .

Since this is an aggressive form of cancer and it is often misdiagnosed, it is very important to be aware of the symptoms. It is important to note that these symptoms usually develop rather quickly, over a period of just a few weeks. The symptoms of IBC include:

Redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast

Skin changes on or around the breast (pink, reddish purple, or bruised)

A pitted appearance to the breast, like that of an orange

A bruise or sore on the breast that doesn't go away

Sudden increase in size of the breast

Burning, itching, tenderness, or pain of the breast

Nipple retraction or discharge.

Swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm, in the neck, or above the collarbone

Symptoms of IBC are often attributed to other diseases, thus delaying the diagnosis. As a patient, it is important to urge your doctor to pursue other measures and treatments if you think you have been misdiagnosed. Once IBC is suspected, the diagnosis is confirmed by a physical exam, biopsy, mammogram, ultrasound, and/or a MRI. After the cancer is diagnosed, IBC is described as either being stage IIIB or stage IV, depending on how advanced the cancer is in the patient. Knowing the cancer's stage helps the doctor to develop a treatment plan and assess the patient's prognosis. Treatment usually consists of chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, and/or surgery. Prognosis depends on many factors. Currently, the five-year survival rate for people with IBC is between twenty-five and fifty percent.

There is currently research being done on IBC. There are clinical trials taking place that aim to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments for IBC. Many doctors are becoming more aware of the disease as are patients. However, many people are still unaware of IBC. Often times, people are not aware until it is too late. That is why it is so important to know the symptoms of IBC. If you think you have been misdiagnosed, urge your doctor to pursue other measures. IBC is often called the "silent killer" of breast cancers because it goes undetected or misdiagnosed for so long. However, it doesn't have to be that way.