Inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC, is a form of the disease that many people many not even know exists. IBC is rare; of all the breast cancer cases diagnosed in the United States, inflammatory breast cancer is the culprit less than 5 percent of the time. Inflammatory breast cancer often affects younger women while other forms of the disease are diagnosed more often in older age groups, according to the National Cancer Institute. Diagnosis of IBC is achieved through a physical examination of the breast, imaging tools and tissue samples.
Step 1
Examine your breasts on a monthly basis and learn to recognize abnormalities that could signal inflammatory breast cancer. Look for redness, swelling and areas of dimpled skin called "pea d'orange" (orange skin). Areas of the breast may feel warm to the touch, ache or burn.
Step 2
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice changes in your breasts that appear quickly. Inflammatory breast cancer progresses quickly and is an aggressive form of the disease. Symptoms may show up suddenly within a few weeks. Swollen glands under the arms may accompany breast symptoms.
Step 3
Have a mammogram as part of the diagnostic process. Your doctor will order a mammogram if she notices other signs that are consistent with IBC. Inflammatory breast cancer blocks lymph vessels in the breast and may show up on a mammogram as a thickening of the skin.
Step 4
Undergo a biopsy of breast tissue to diagnose inflammatory breast cancer. Your doctor will not only look at tissues underneath the skin, but part of the skin on your breast as well. One of the signs of IBC is a mass of cancerous cells present in the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast.
Things You'll Need
- Mammogram
- Biopsy
