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Inflammatory Breast Cancer(IBC; Inflammatory Carcinoma of the Breast; Inflammatory Breast Carcinoma)
by
Amy Scholten, MPH DefinitionInflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and fast growing breast cancer. It makes the breast look inflamed. It is found in women and men.
CausesCancer happens when cells divide without control or order. These cells grow together to form a tumor. They can invade and damage nearby tissues. They can also spread to other parts of the body. It is not clear what causes changes in the cells. In IBC, cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin. This causes lymph fluid to build up. Risk FactorsIBC is more common in older women and women who are Black. Other things that raise the risk are:
SymptomsUnlike other breast cancers, a lump or mass may not be felt. Symptoms start quickly. They may include a breast that is:
The nipple of the breast may also be pulling inward. DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will also be done. Images may be taken of the breast. This can be done with: A biopsy will be done to remove a sample of tissue. It will be checked for cancer cells. If cancer is found, the tissue will also be tested to look for:
Diagnosis is confirmed by the tests. The exam and test results are also used for staging. Staging outlines how far and fast cancer has spread. TreatmentEarly diagnosis and treatment are important. The sooner it is found, the better the outcome. Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. Treatment may include one or more of the following:
PreventionThe risk of breast cancer may be reduced by:
CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Breast Cancer Network https://www.cbcn.ca Canadian Cancer Society http://www.cancer.ca References:
Breast cancer in women. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/breast-cancer-in-women. Accessed March 19, 2021.
Inflammatory breast cancer. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/inflammatory-breast-cancer. Accessed March 19, 2021. Inflammatory breast cancer. National Breast Cancer Foundation website. ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed March 19, 2021. Inflammatory breast cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at:
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/ibc-fact-sheet. Accessed March 19, 2021. Rosenbluth JM, Overmoyer BA. Inflammatory breast cancer: a separate entity. Curr Oncol Rep. 2019;21(10):86. Treatment of inflammatory breast cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/treatment-of-inflammatory-breast-cancer.html
Accessed March 19, 2021. Last reviewed January 2021 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP Last Updated: 3/19/2021 | |