"Inflammatory Breast Disease? Breast Cancer Rash? Inflammatory Breast Cancer!"

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Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the official term. But you may have heard people call it a breast cancer rash or inflammatory breast disease. IBC is a one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer. IBC is unlike other types of breast cancer in that it typically is not associated with a tumor or lump like other breast cancers.

IBC is considered a rare form of breast cancer representing 1 – 3% of diagnosed breast cancers. IBC affects the lymph vessels that are in the breast. With IBC, the lymph vessels of the breast skin become clogged with cancer. This breast cancer may be mistaken for an infection and is often misdiagnosed initially. Misdiagnosis may delay the start of treatment. This is particularly scary as this breast cancer is so aggressive.

IBC could be classified as Stage IIIB, Stage IIIC, or Stage IV depending on various factors. Five-year survival rates for these stages and IBC are low. For IBC in particular 5 year survival rates are less than 50%. Click here to go to survival rates for breast cancer stages.

Being aware of the signs and symptoms of IBC could help you recognize these conditions more rapidly and get vital treatment started sooner. Below is a short list of some of the signs and symptoms of IBC:

Your breast may feel warm to the touch

The skin of your breast may look like an orange with dimples

Your nipple may be turned inward

You may feel a thickening of the skin

One of your breasts may be swollen and feel heavy or hurt

Your breast may itch a lot

You may have discharge from your nipple

This is not a complete list, but captures some of the major signs and symptoms. For a complete list of the signs and symptoms of IBC check out the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation web site (listed below). They have a printable pamphlet that has a complete list of IBC signs and symptoms.

Some websites that have excellent and more detailed information on IBC are:

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation
http://www.ibcresearch.org

National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov