Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive type of cancer and is quite different than other types of breast cancer that are normally seen. Inflammatory breast cancer is more deadly as it can strike women of any age. Often it does not start with a lump so mammogram and ultrasound tests may not be able to detect it. The peculiarity of it makes it pertinent for every woman to be informed about the causes, symptoms, risk factors and treatment of inflammatory breast cancer.
What is inflammatory breast cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of breast cancer, which affects the lymph vessels of the skin of the breast by blocking them. The skin of the breast gets discolored and swells. The skin also gets pitted like an orange which is also known as peau d’orange. It accounts for 1 to 3% of breast cancer.
Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms
- In case of inflamatory breast cancer, the breast appears red and swollen which has earned it the name.
- This cancer does not necessarily start with a lump which makes it difficult to diagnose.
- The patient may feel pain in the breast accompanied by skin changes like reddened or thick skin.
- The breasts may itch also.
- There can be nipple discharge in case of inflamatory breast cancer and nipple retraction also.
- During inflamatory breast cancer the lymph nodes under the arm may swell up.
inflamatory-breast cancer
Pic ref: -http://www.jamesline.com/cancertypes/breast/about/breast/Pages/index.aspx
Diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer
Development of any mass or lump in the breast should be immediately reported as it may be inflamatory breast cancer. The doctors often misjudge the symptoms of this cancer as infection. So you have to be very careful while reporting the symptoms. The doctor may suggest mammogram or ultrasound but for inflammatory breast cancer the doctors cannot rely solely on these tests. There are high chances of the inflamatory breast cancer not being detected through these conventional tests as it grows in sheets rather a solid tumor. A skin biopsy is the surest way to determine inflammatory breast cancer.
Staging of inflammatory breast cancer
Staging of inflamatory breast cancer is done on the basis of the size of the tumor and also the amount of spreading of the cancer. Based on these criteria, three groups of stages have been defined.
In stage IIIB the cancer has invaded the tissues near the breast and the ribs and muscles of the chest. It may have spread to the lymph nodes of the breast or under the arm.
In stage IIIC the cancer spreads to lymph nodes beneath the collarbone and near neck.
Stage IV signifies that the cancer has spread to other organs of the body like liver, lungs, bones etc.
Causes of inflammatory breast cancer
Like most other type of cancers, the cause of inflamatory breast cancer is also not certain. But heredity can be attributed as a major cause. So women who have one or more cases of breast cancer in their family should be cautious of any change in their breast and report to doctor immediately.
Risk factors of inflammatory breast cancer
On average women around 59 years of age are more prone to inflammatory breast cancer although in some cases younger women in their thirties also have been found to be affected.
Treatment of inflammatory breast cancer
Inflamatory breast cancer is treated by surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Chemotherapy
Inflammatory breast cancer is a diffuse cancer which attacks the lymph system of the skin and spreads beyond. So through chemotherapy the growth of the cancer cells are restricted from further spreading.
Surgery for treating inflamatory breast cancer
Surgery is done after chemotherapy. Nowadays a modified radical mastectomy is done in which the breast and some of the lymph nodes are removed. If the cancer has spread in the muscles of the chest wall then a radical mastectomy is performed. The breast along with the chest muscles, the lymph nodes under the arm and also ribs are removed. It is painful and deforming. Often breast reconstruction is done after the patient heals.
Inflamatory breast cancer radiation therapy
Radiation affects both normal and cancerous cells. The radiation beams are focused on a particular area where malignant cells are located densely thereby restricting the damage to the healthy tissues. But since radiation affects all the cells of a particular area, the treatment is usually phased out to let the normal cells repair themselves. Radiation has certain side effects which last for entire life. If radiation has touched heart or lung then these organs may lose some functionality. Moreover, the skin loses elasticity and reacts to sunrays.
Hormonal therapy for inflamatory breast cancer
Hormonal treatments are usually given to prevent recurrences. Although there are some side effects but they are less harsh than those caused by chemotherapies.
The old adage of “prevention is better than cure” is most suitable for an aggressive disease like inflammatory breast cancer. So you should learn to understand the symptoms of it and seek medical help if you notice any change in your breast and start an early fight with inflammatory breast cancer.
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