Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form that doesn't exhibit the typical characteristics of breast cancer. No mass or lump presents in inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer causes the skin to change. The texture of the skin begins to change and begins to look like the peel of an orange; the term for this is peau d' orange. In addition, the skin may appear reddened, warm to palpation and painful. Nipple changes can occur with inflammatory breast cancer, such as nipple inversion and nipple drainage. As with any cancer, there is potential for the disease to spread to other locations within the body.
Fever
According to the American Cancer Society, fever is often a sign of cancer. The organization also reports that it's more common when cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This may occur as a defensive mechanism as the body's immune system attempts to fight cancer cells. It's important to discuss any new symptoms with a health care professional to determine whether there are implications of additional medical problems.
Pain
Pain can be an initial symptom of cancer. Where the pain is located correlates directly with the location of the cancer. If the cancer spreads and tumors or masses form in other parts of the body, the pain may be caused by the growing tumor pressing on surrounding structures in the body. As the cancer grows and spreads, the cancer cells destroy the healthy cells in the body. This, too, can cause pain as healthy organ tissues are damaged.
Weight Loss
Weight loss can also be a signal that inflammatory breast cancer has spread. This is especially true in cases in which the cancer has metastasized to organs in the abdominal cavity. As indicated by the American Cancer Society, any unintentional weight loss of 10 lbs. or more should raise concern.
Other information
The location to which the cancer has spread has a direct effect on symptoms that are experienced. Cancer can metastasize or spread to any part of the body. Symptoms for metastasis to the brain, lungs, liver or bones all produce different symptoms. According to the University of California San Francisco, the most common metastasis sites are the bones, liver, lungs and brain. The only true way to diagnose possible metastasis is by testing that must be ordered by your physician.
