Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive type of breast cancer in which the cancerous cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of cancer can occur in women of any age and is extremely rare in men. When one develops this type of cancer, the breast normally looks red and swollen and that is how the disease gets the name ‘inflammatory’. Often this disease does not present a lump as is the case with other forms of breast cancer. For this reason therefore, the disease cannot be detected by mammography or an ultrasound.

One should look out for one or many of the following symptoms in the case of inflammatory breast cancer. Pain in the breast, skin changes in the breast as well as reddened area with texture and thickness of an orange are some of the symptoms. Other signs and symptoms include sudden swelling of the breast, itching of the beast, nipple retraction or discharge and swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm or in the neck. Unusual warmth of the affected area, a bruise that does not go away as well a breast getting harder and firmer are other red flags for the disease.

Diagnosis of this type of breast cancer can be done through a surgical biopsy where samples of breast skin and underlying tissue are collected in a surgical or skin biopsy. The skin and the tissue are then analyzed for cancer cells.

Inflammatory breast cancer is typically treated with chemotherapy. This is normally followed by surgery. Radiation therapy is also used after the patient has had a mastectomy. Hormone therapy is used when patients test positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors on the tumor cells.


Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on cancer and its treatment Cancer