Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) attacks the lymphatic channels in the skin of your breast, causing redness, swelling, and sensations of warmth. Other symptoms may include:
- Pink, purple, or bruised breast skin that does not improve
- Grooved, dimpled or uneven breast skin
- Breast heaviness
- Inverted or flattened nipples
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm, or above the collarbone
Diagnosis of IBC
To diagnose IBC, your doctor will perform a clinical breast exam in order to manually check your breasts for abnormalities. Your doctor may also use a digital mammogram and/or breast ultrasound to better understand the appearance of the inside of your breast, as well as a skin biopsy and a minimally invasive breast biopsy to examine some tissue from your affected breast under a microscope.
IBC requires immediate treatment
IBC is rare, affecting only about one to five percent of women with breast cancer, but it is fast growing. Therefore, a qualified breast surgeon should examine you if you experience any of the above symptoms. IBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer that has already spread to skin and may spread to other areas.
Our breast care specialists have the experience and expertise to diagnose IBC, and move swiftly to treatment options that are right for you.
Treatment options for IBC may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Biologic targeted therapy
