Inflammatory Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
Inflammatory Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer that is difficult to detect early. It is important to know the warning signs of IBC so that you can seek medical attention early if you experience them.
What is IBC?
IBC is a type of breast cancer that spreads quickly to the lymph vessels and skin of the breast. It is called "inflammatory" because it causes the breast to become red, swollen, and warm. IBC can be difficult to detect early because it does not always cause a lump in the breast.
Who is at risk for IBC?
IBC is more common in women under the age of 40, black women, and women who are overweight or obese.
What are the warning signs of IBC?
The warning signs of IBC include:
* Swelling of the breast skin
* Redness involving more than one-third of the breast
* Pitting or thickening of the breast skin
* Retracted or inverted nipple
* One breast appearing larger than the other or feeling warmer and heavier than the other
* Breast tenderness, pain, or itching
* Swelling of the lymph nodes under the arms or near the collarbone
**What should I do if I experience any of these symptoms?**
If you experience any of the warning signs of IBC, it is important to see your doctor right away. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and may order imaging tests such as a mammogram, breast ultrasound, or breast MRI. If your doctor suspects that you have IBC, they will order a biopsy of your breast tissue to confirm the diagnosis.
How is IBC treated?
Treatment for IBC typically begins with chemotherapy. This is followed by surgery to remove the cancer. Radiation and other targeted drug therapies may also be given after surgery. If IBC has spread beyond the breast, it is treated with chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted drug therapy.
**There is encouraging news in the form of new drugs and treatment combinations for IBC.** Specific drug combinations or combinations of drugs and radiation therapy are being tested to help keep the cancer from returning. For advanced disease, treatments that include new targeted therapies are being studied and certain immunotherapy drugs have already been approved for treatment of IBC that is triple negative.
If you have been diagnosed with IBC, it is important to talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you.
Source: healthday