What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

There has been a fair bit of coverage of inflammatory breast cancer recently, a “lumpless” form of the disease. This blogger was diagnosed recently, and Catherine covered the topic this week on Voices for Hope.

So what is “inflammatory breast cancer?” This National Cancer Institute Q&A is a good primer, explaining that:

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States

Symptoms are described thusly:

Symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d’orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, aching, increase in breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward) (3). These symptoms usually develop quickly—over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. However, it is important to note that these symptoms may also be signs of other conditions such as infection, injury, or other types of cancer (1).

Read the rest of that page for some basic information on diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials, and prognosis. The Mayo Clinic site has more, including this information on when to seek medical care:

Because inflammatory breast cancer progresses rapidly, by the time most women seek medical advice, the cancer is already quite advanced. If you notice any of the signs and symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, see your doctor right away.

If you’re being treated for a breast infection (mastitis), but your signs and symptoms last longer than a week after starting antibiotics, ask your doctor to do some imaging studies of the breast or to perform a breast biopsy. If these test results show no signs of cancer, but your signs and symptoms appear to be getting worse, talk with your doctor about performing another biopsy or ask for a referral to a breast specialist.

The American Cancer Society also offers a bit of information on the disease, and there is an Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation, but its website burns my eyeballs.