Posted on April 2, 2010.
Information on Inflammatory Breast Cancer Inflammatory breast cancer is the most violent type of breast cancer. This is not a new type of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is blocking the lymph vessels in the skin of the chest. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) causes changes in the nipple and surrounding areas. This type of breast cancer is called "inflammatory" because the breast often appears swollen and red, or "inflammation". IBC accounts for 1 to 5 per cent of cases of breast cancer in the United States. This type of breast cancer that can occur in women of all ages. 1% to 5% of cases of inflammatory breast cancer in the United States are inflammatory breast cancer.
Inflammatory breast cancer is generally classified as breast cancer with stage IIIB due to possible fear of skin, chest wall, lymph nodes along the breast bone in the chest wall. It also grows faster and more aggressive than the more common types of breast cancer. It tends to occur at a young age. African American women appear to be higher risk than white women IBC. Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct mass in the chest. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin.
The skin of the breast may also show pink, purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange, which is caused by an accumulation of fluid and swelling of the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, pain, increase breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted. These symptoms usually disappear rapid growth over a period of several weeks or months. swollen lymph nodes may also occur in the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. The usual treatment for IBC starts with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, meaning that it affects cells in the body.
The use of chemotherapy is to manage or destroy cancer cells, including those that have spread to other parts of the body. aggressive chemotherapy is often followed by a regional treatment of the locality. Radiation is used in most cases, surgery or not is done, more deliberate disease. Anti-estrogen and Herceptin therapy may also have a role. Other forms of targeted therapies like Avastin, can be used. Supportive care is treatment given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a serious illness or death, like cancer. It prevents or treats as soon as possible symptoms of the disease.