A rare type of breast cancer is called Inflammatory Breast Cancer . It is a type of breast cancer that is inflamed or swollen and has a red appearance instead of a lump form. It is harder to detect because you can not feel it like a lump. It is an aggressive cancer although it is a rare form of breast cancer.
Some of the symptoms are: pain in the breast, reddened area, bruise that does not go away, texture and thickness of an orange, nipple retraction or discharge, burning, and aching. If you see or feel any of these symptoms, immediately contact your physician.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer is primarily diagnosed by a doctor’s examination, with biopsies, mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and positron emission tomography (PET) scans to confirm the doctor’s diagnoses. The treatment of IBC is done through many different therapies. There are chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and surgery.
Chemotherapy treatment is usually the first step in treating IBC. Chemotherapy is usually given intravenously to kill all cancer cells in the body. Because chemotherapy can not target just the bad, cancer cells, all of the cells in the body are destroyed. This can lead to one of the side effects of hair loss.
The next step after chemotherapy could be surgery and/or radiation. Radiation might be recommended depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer. Surgery can be the removal of the breast and surrounding tissues. Radiation is a targeted therapy that focuses on the cancer area.
The reason why IBC is more aggressive is due to the fact it can spread faster to the rest of the body than other breast cancers. The survival rate, according to the National Cancer Institute, for IBC patients is between 25 to 50 percent. They stated the statistics is based on a large number of patients even though the numbers seem low and urge people to consult with their physician in regards to their specific condition.
To emphasis on early detection, it is recommended that women at all ages should perform a monthly breast self exam. This monthly exam will allow women to detect any changes in their breasts. If a woman find anything unusual or feel any discomfort, she should see her physician as soon as possible.
SaveRBoobies offers free resources and information to women before and after breast cancer treatments. View video interviews with surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, nutritionists, yoga instructors, survivors, and more. SaveRBoobies strives to support breast cancer charities that provide direct services to women by donating portions of its breast cancer apparel sales.
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September 3rd, 2011
Janice Moore
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