Inflammatory breast cancer is the least common type of breast cancer. Some women who have IBC remain undiagnosed for long periods of time -- even while seeing their doctors about their symptoms. This is because the symptoms of IBC are similar to those of mastitis (pronounced ma-sty'-tis), a breast infection that is treated with antibiotics. IBC does not respond to antibiotics. On the IBC Research Foundation website (link follows), I also read of women whose rashes were misdiagnosed as insect bites, allergic reactions to food or detergents, shingles, even reactions to wearing underwire bras.
Until this week, I had never heard of inflammatory breast cancer. I learned of it when a friend sent me an email containing a link to a news channel story about IBC. Then of course I googled to find out more about this rare form of breast cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic (link follows) and the IBC Research websites, signs and symptoms of IBC include:
- A breast that appears red, purple, pink or bruised ("bruise" does not go away)
- A tender, firm and enlarged breast. Also according to ibcresearch.org, swelling is usually sudden, sometimes a cup size in a few days
- A warm feeling in the breast (breast is warm to the touch)
- Itching of the breast
- Breast pain (from a constant ache to stabbing pains)
- Ridged or dimpled skin texture, similar to an orange peel
- Thickened areas of skin
- Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm, above the collarbone or below the collarbone
- Flattening or retraction of the nipple
- Swollen or crusted skin on the nipple
- Change in color of the skin around the nipple (areola)
Here are links to the websites I mentioned.
IBC Research Foundation http://www.ibcresearch.org/ This site includes pictures and several video and audio clips, including "IBC: The Silent Killer" from station KOMO News 4.
Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.com/health/inflammatory-breast-cancer/DS00632
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