According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 191,410 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and 40,820 women died from the disease that year. The National Cancer Institute describes inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) as a rare but particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer accounts for 5 percent of all breast cancer cases, and has symptoms distinct from other types of breast cancer.
Inflammation
The key characteristic symptom of inflammatory breast cancer is inflammation in the breast tissue. Breast cancer develops when a normal cell in the breast becomes altered in such a way that it grows uncontrollably, damaging other cells, and perhaps ultimately spreading to other sites in the body. The National Cancer Institute reports that the inflammation in inflammatory breast cancer occurs when the breast cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. The breast may look swollen and red, which are typical features of inflammation. The Mayo Clinic reports that the affected breast may feel thick or heavy, which is due to the swelling caused by the collected fluid in the breast. Also due to a collection of fluid, the breast may feel abnormally warm, especially compared with an unaffected breast.
Altered Skin
Other symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer are changes in the appearance of the breast skin. The Mayo Clinic reports that the skin of the breast may appear pink, red or purple. The changes in the skin color may cause the breast to appear bruised. According to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the changes in color are called erythema. Additionally, the Research Foundation notes that the skin may take on a dimpled appearance, similar to an orange peel, and ridges may appear due to thickened areas of the skin.
Changes in the Nipple
The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation reports that inflammatory breast cancer also may cause changes in the nipple. The nipple may retract and, according to the National Cancer Institute, become inverted and face inward. The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation also reports that there may be a discharge from the breast that may or may not contain blood. Furthermore, the areola surrounding the nipple may change in color and/or texture.
Pain
The cancer cells grow uncontrollably and there may be an increase the pressure in the breast; the affected breast may be painful because of this uncontrolled growth. Pain and increased pressure in the breast may also be caused by the blockage of fluid into and out of the breast, which is due to obstruction by the cancer cells. The Mayo Clinic reports that the breast may feel tender, painful or achy. The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation adds that the pain may manifest as a constant ache, or occur as stabbing pains.
