From Health magazine
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) rarely produces a lump (see an artists’s rendering of the disease). Instead, the breast may swell—as much as a cup size in a few days—and turn hot and red. In some cases, the skin may dimple and thicken in patches (much like the skin of an orange), or the nipple flattens or turns inward and the areola darkens. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
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Comments (17)
artist rendition is small. it is hard to see what it looks like.
using the “enlarge” button gives a much better view.
Photographs would be better – while the drawing may be a good representation it’s still very difficult to determine what the disease _really_ looks like. The entire breast wouldn’t have to be shown, just the skin thickening and dimpling.
I’m currently undergoing chemo for IBC. My breast did not look anything like the photos, bt I found mine very early (I think). My primary symptom was a thickening of the skin, like a large bug bite, about the size of a dime, but elongated; located under my nipple. Made an appt with dr., by the time of my appt a week later, my nipple had started to invert.
Google “inflammatory breast cancer” under Google Images, and you’ll find lots of photos. HTH!
I too am undergoing chemo for IBC. Picture is good, but I had no redness but other sypmptoms to make it IBC. Kathy, I will pray for you.
I was diagnosed with IBC in January ’07. My first symptom was a rusty discharge from my nipple. Within days my breast became enlarged and red. IBC is stage III or IV when diagnosed. Cancer cells silently fill up the lymph nodes. When the nodes are clogged up, the breast looks inflamed, swollen, and red. This happens in the matter of days or weeks. Treatment is aggressive and survival rates are still low but we fight on! Prayers to you, my IBC sisters.
I was diagnosed with IBC 2 years ago. I had an even more aggressive IBC than most but because of that the clinical picture was totally different. My breast developed stretch marks and became cyanotic (blue) which I was told was due to cutting off the blood supply to the breast. You could see daily changes and by the time I co-ordinated a mammogram with steriotactic (needle guided)biopsy it was already in the lymph nodes. I fought it with all my strength. I had a pic line and daily injections of neuprogen and eprex. They postponed my chemo and reduced it 3 times, even then my platelets bottomed out so I had 6 transfusions of packed cells and platelets. I forget the name of my chemo meds but it was red fluid and a vial of white every two weeks. The first round nearly killed me. I ended up in isolation on many antibiotics experiencing hallucinations which were horrible and had trouble with fluid balance. I really didn’t think I was going to make it and neither did my Oncologist and Surgeon. Harvard University tracked my case due to the aggressive treatment with radiation. Following chemo I had 2nd degree burns from my radiation and have some burns on my bronchiol tube which cause me to cough. There are some other side effects like short term memory problems and if I sit in one position too long like at the movies or in a car, getting mobile is painful. My neighbour had gone through a similar experience with NON-Hodgkins lukemia and they said she wouldn’t make it either and she was only 21 years old. She found the courage inside of me that I wasn’t aware of. We are both alive and well so far. To all those out there that read this DRS included, DON’T GIVE UP…and above all pray. If any DRs are interested in this case due to the deviation in the clinical picture contact the Jervinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Hi Ladies
I am a survivor 2003 just after se bought my new car found the symptoms on my 55 birthday I thought i was going through the change of life boob doing strange thing and a lump finally sent me to the doctor.
I had 2 form of breast cancer inflammatory and invasive 5cm tumor. Hey just about killed my self waiting to long. Sept was the date and 3 mths later the doctor said chemo was working and then he changed me to another chemo finger nail I almost lost. hair I lost funny how some how you expect some of it to remain where it belongs Upstair i expected an cried but the down stairs part supprised me. reminded me of the new born mice we fed with and i dropper. I have made five years. Iam in a study on a drug called exemestane they think if you have this curtain jean it will work but if you don’t it will
when I got this breast cancer 20% make it 10 years
then the invasive breast cancer makes it 22% or come thin close to that. Well I have made up my mind and even if I can’t spell I AM NOT DYING UNTIL I AM 72 YEARS
I HAVE SAD THAT SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL
WORRING IS LIKE GETTING INTO A ROCKING CHAIR AND NO MATER HOW FAR HOW FAST YOU STILL CAN’T GET DOWN TOWN
YEH HAW I AM ALIVE 55 TODAY.
IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE JUST CALL THE CANCER HOT LINE I WOULD HAVE SAID ME BUT I GO TO WORK AND REAL LOSER AT GIVING ADVICE… TREATMENT ARE COMING TO US ALL THE TIME CAUSE WE ARE ****SPECIAL ****
SHOULD SAY WE BOUGHT A CAR 2003 AND I FOUND THE LUMP WHEN I WAS 50
I just came back from the Doctor’s and, there is something in my right breast, and now I have to see a surgeon about it, I am scared only because. I just went through, a total thyroidectomy and there was a 1.2cm cancerous tumour in the right lobe of my thyroid, and now I may have Breast cancer, and that scares me to no end….. hoping it will be nothing, but it may be cancerious…. BUT I WILL SURVIVE THIS>>>>>>;0)
Hi I have been going through swollen red itchy with discharge and not exxagerating 4 months of antibiotics in this past year 2 mammos u/s ductogram unsuccessful duct ecstasia with a biopsy that came back neagative but they did not biopsy the skin, an mri all say mastitis, 3 surgeons about 10 docs in total anyone that can get me a name and phone number of a specialist that deals with ibc please email me at prestressed@sympatico.ca or call me collect @ 5193222787 i am in ontario please help me
Hi,
My left breast has been itching and aching me for like a month. I’m scheuduled for a Mam and Ultra Sound on Nove 20. I also get som red patches coming and going Im really scared. She i do something else or just wait for my test date.
Scared Tia
I had a lumpectomy about a month ago and will be starting radiation next week. I was told the surgery showed no cancer in the lympnodes but I am concerned about my breast. It’s very tender, swollen, red and the nipple area gets hard and lumpy then goes back to being soft. These symtoms were not there before the biopsy and lumpectomy. Is it possible that I could also have IBC that wasn’t picked up with the biopsy?
WRITE, TALK AND BROADCAST MORE AND MORE ABOUT INFLAMITORY BREAST CANCER. BRING IT TO THE FOREFRONT. EXPLAIN IT ALL ALONG WITH BREAST LUMPS ETC.
WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW, CAN KILL US.
I need some advice: Does the redness come and go? Is there any pattern? Any description will help me. Thank you.
Can the peau d’orange be soft like regular skin with just the enlarged follicles. Or is it always thick n rough texture? And are the breasts always red when the swell or can they swell without redness?