Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment
A rare but very aggressive type of cancer is Inflammatory breast cancer. The mortality rate for Inflammatory breast cancer is higher than that for most other cancers. Contrary to its name, it doesn’t occur because of some inflammation; rather, inflammation is just a symptom in IBC. It is not confined to older women and can develop in very young women, too. Men are not totally protected from IBC, even though their risk is too low.
IBC gives rise to cancer cells that attack the lymph vessels in the breast. It blocks the vessels, which gives rise to extreme swelling and reddish appearance of the breasts. Research says occurrence of IBC can differ with ethnicity, African American women being more prone, and that too, at a younger age, than White women. Also, it can occur in very young women of any other age, too. This is sad because other forms of breast cancer mostly develop in middle-aged women, while disabling young women to enjoy their lives.
The progression of IBC is its most alarming feature. The time lapse between the first symptom appearing and the cancer reaching a very advanced stage may be leek than two weeks. This however, may be one of the reasons for early diagnosis of IBC, since the symptoms are very apparent early on due to the cancer’s fast advancement.
Mammography and ultrasounds are not the best diagnosis techniques for Inflammatory breast cancer, since it is not usually accompanied with the formation of a lump. This characteristic makes the cancer undetectable. However, if other symptoms prevail, a biopsy can certainly determine if cancer growth is present.
If you have developed IBC, your breast will appear extremely red or purple, often bruised and tender. The breast also gets enormously swelled, giving rise to its inflamed look. The breast size will increase rapidly, and there might be perpetual itching, too. You might get inverted nipples, a heavy aching and burning feel around the breast. The skin around the breast may also appear bumpy, like the skin of an orange, which gives name to the condition’s medical term, peau d’orange. This condition occurs due to fluid accumulation. Other symptoms are changes of color or texture in the skin around the nipple (areola), swelling of the nipple, swelling under the arm and on top and below the collarbone.
IBC is often misdiagnosed as mastitis, a breast cancer infection accompanied with redness and swelling of the breast. The most important thing to remember here is that symptoms persist even after two weeks of treatment for IBC, which is not the case with mastitis. It is also good to know that previous chest operations may partially block your breast lymph vessels, and this is not a breast cancer condition.
Due to tremendous number of researches going into the field, Inflammatory breast cancer can be cured in almost fifty five out of every hundred IBC cases. What used to be a certain death two decades back is curable today! Today, the treatment for IBC is very extensive, although it gives a lot to hope for. Systemic therapies like chemotherapy and hormone treatments are backed up by surgeries like mastectomy and then by radiation therapy, to eliminate chances of a recurrence, and the treatment is done!
The high mortality rate, the extensive treatments, the fear because of uncertainty of results, and all the other woes Inflammatory breast cancer can bring you will naturally put you down and scare you. Your fear is justified, but you must remember that technology has advanced exponentially over the last few years. If you keep hope, all the technology will just go into curing you.
Previous Posts by This Author
- Types Of Male Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Awareness - The Day Of Truth
- New Breast Cancer Treatments
- What Are The Causes Of Breast Cancer
- finding breast cancer support groups
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