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Inflammatory breast cancer is so called because the overlying skin of the breast has a reddened appearance – similar to that seen with some infections of the breast.
In people with inflammatory breast cancer, the reddened appearance is caused by breast cancer cells blocking tiny channels in the breast tissue called lymph channels. The lymph channels are part of the lymphatic system involved in the body’s defence against infections.
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer. Only 1-2% of all breast cancers are inflammatory breast cancer.
The symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer can appear over a short space of time.
The most common symptoms are a warmth, redness or swelling of the breast that may feel sore. Ridges may appear on the skin, or the breast may appear pitted like the skin of an orange. (This is often described using the French term, peau d’orange.)
As with other forms of breast cancer, some women may find a lump, while others experience pain in the breast or nipple. Some may have a nipple discharge or the nipple may be inverted (pulled in).
Inflammatory breast cancer can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms can be similar to non-cancerous conditions such as mastitis. Once you have been referred to a specialist, certain tests may be done to help with the diagnosis. These include:
A biopsy is usually done to confirm the diagnosis, which is usually done under local anaesthetic.
Inflammatory breast cancer can grow more quickly than other types of breast cancer so there is a stronger possibility that cancer cells may spread to other parts of the body.
For this reason treatment is usually started straight away. The type of treatment you are offered will depend on the results of your biopsy and other tests that may have been done.
Treatment usually means having systemic treatment (treatment that can reach cells throughout the body) and local treatment (to the tumour and the area around it).
Clinical trials are going on all the time looking at new and different ways of treating inflammatory breast cancer.
Although it is a more serious form of breast cancer, treatment continues to improve, which means that the outcome may be more positive now than in the past.
A combination of the following treatments may be used:
Everybody responds differently to their diagnosis and has their own way of coping.
It is important that you feel able to talk to your specialist or breast care nurse about any questions or concerns you may have.
You may feel alone, particularly as inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer and there may seem to be few people with the same condition to whom you can look for support.
Remember that there are people who can support you so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
You can let other people know how you are feeling, particularly your family and friends, so that they can be more supportive. It can also help to discuss your feelings or worries with your breast care nurse or your specialist.
Alternatively, a counsellor or psychotherapist might be more appropriate if you want to talk through your feelings in more depth over a period of time. Your breast care nurse, specialist or GP can usually arrange this.