Inflammatory Breast Cancer—How Is It Different?

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Inflammatory breast cancer is a very rare type of cancer and is so called because of its manifestation on breast skin and the ‘inflamed’ or swollen look. Younger women are diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer as compared to other forms of breast cancer. But it’s a persistent type of locally developing cancer that affects a smaller number of women.

Metastasis is more likely in women with inflammatory breast cancer and this type is likely to prove more fatal than other forms of noninflammatory breast cancer. In the rarest of rare cases, even men can be diagnosed with this disease. Researchers are, however, working on solutions and there is likely to be new hope for sufferers of this disease.

So how do we distinguish inflammatory breast cancer? The first sign is that it takes a shorter time to become apparent—it can grow very rapidly, taking weeks or even days to manifest itself. There will not be the usual lump that heralds the possibility of other types of breast cancer but the skin will thicken and there will be a feeling of heaviness in the breast. It develops more as a sheet than a tumor. Look out for feelings of tenderness and enlargement. Does the breast feel warm or itchy? The color could also change, appearing red or bruised. You will feel pain and also a change in the texture of the skin. Check if the lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone are enlarged. The skin around the nipple could have a swelling or encrustation or it could appear flattened or retracted and could also experience a change in color.

The symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer can cause confusion as they are similar to a breast infection known as mastitis, which occurs mainly in younger women and especially those who are breast feeding. The difference is that mastitis causes a fever and can be cured by antibiotics. So if there is no fever or antibiotics are not helping to cure the infection then inflammatory breast cancer might be the cause. In some cases the symptoms could also be a result of a previous surgical procedure or radiation therapy. These can lead to the lymphatic drainage system being blocked, causing the swelling and the red color, which again should not be confused with inflammatory breast cancer. However, do have a follow up session of examination even if the symptoms disappear because in rare cases they can recur and be an indication of the cancer.

This cancer manifests itself when the lymphatic cells of the skin on the breast are clogged by cancer cells. This causes the symptoms that are a classic indication of inflammatory breast cancer.

This type of cancer can be diagnosed by a physician after a clinical examination. You will be advised to undergo a breast ultrasound, a mammogram, and a biopsy to help with the diagnosis. Once inflammatory breast cancer is diagnosed, treatment can take the form of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal therapy. Once this initial treatment is over, patients with this disease may undergo additional therapy to prevent or reduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer.

Research studies are taking place that you can participate in that are structured to find newer treatments and optimize the use of currently used treatments. So if you take part in such a clinical trial it can be a treatment option for you.

Patients diagnosed with this disease must be aware that the prognosis for inflammatory breast cancer is different from that of other forms of breast cancer. Since the cancer is more likely to have metastasized when it is diagnosed, the survival rate is much lower than otherwise. However, each patient is in a unique situation and these statistics are based on a large number of patients. So your doctor will give you a prognosis based on your own unique situation. Keep in mind that you must have follow up examination, and treatment if necessary, so that the cancer does not recur.