Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Ultrasounds, MRI, mammograms, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, breast feeding, IBC, help raise funds, breast, breast infection, mammography, MRI

This Website is dedicated to my sister and best friend who died of Inflammatory Breast Cancer on
January 3, 2003. All proceeds from my work go to support her children's college education

IBC Support Organization

Inflammatory Breast Cancer attacks young women in their twenties and thirties!

While young women normally are at lower risk for breast cancer, the fact that IBC is more
aggressive than most forms of breast cancer and IBC has unique signs and symptoms, some of
these young women have metastases (spread of the cancer) to distant sites (Stage IV) by the time
a diagnosis is made.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer usually grows in nests or sheets, rather than as a confined, solid
tumor; and therefore, it can be diffuse throughout the breast with no palpable mass. The cancer
cells can clog the lymphatic system just below the skin. Lymph node involvement is often
assumed. Increased breast density compared to prior mammograms should be considered
suspicious.

We have all been positively conditioned to the fact that when a woman discovers a lump in her
breast she should go to the doctor immediately, BUT how many people know that YOU DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE A LUMP TO HAVE BREAST CANCER. Mammograms and Ultrasounds are not
enough.

A certain percentage of the women and men who are diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer
are initially misdiagnosed. The symptoms are similar to Mastitis, a relatively minor breast infection.
Most physicians will prescribe antibiotics to rule out Mastitis. If after a week, the symptoms do not
dissipate, a biopsy should be performed.

IBC requires quick, aggressive treatment with chemotherapy prior to surgery in order to reduce the
size of the breast and eliminate other symptoms before surgery occurs in order to increase the
chances of clear margins and a better prognosis. As a result, it is treated differently than more
common types of breast cancer where surgery is often performed first.

IBC has a higher risk of recurrence than other types of breast cancer. It is the most aggressive of
the various types of breast cancer, but an early diagnosis and quick initiation of treatment
improves the chances of long-term survival. Chemotherapy is usually begun within days of
diagnosis. With new and upcoming treatment protocols, there is continued increased incidence of
long-term survival.