Cancer watch
There are several different types of breast cancer and this is due to the different types of tissue in and surrounding the breast. Recently an email has been circulating talking about a silent killer – inflammatory breast cancer.
While the email is raising awareness of breast cancer amongst women in general and of inflammatory breast cancer in particular, it is also causing needless concern and in some cases panic amongst women. This article will attempt to demystify IBC.
According to the National Cancer Institute IBC is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer in which cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast.
IBC accounts for less than five per cent of all breast cancer cases diagnosed in the United States. IBC often has a rapid onset in comparison to other types of breast cancer. It is more common in women of African descent than Caucasian women and it is often diagnosed in younger women when compared to other types of breast cancer which are more common in women over the age of 50.
A sign is something you can see. Perhaps the most common sign of IBC is that the breast changes colour and can become red (or pink) and swollen hence the description ‘inflammatory’.
The skin may also appear to be bruised without a woman (or man) having received an injury to the breast. Other signs of change that might indicate IBC are that the skin may appear ridged or develop the appearance of the skin of an orange. This is caused by a build-up of fluid in the breast. The breast may also increase in size. There may be changes to the nipple including an unexplained discharge or it may change direction and face inward rather than outward.
A symptom is something that you feel. Symptoms of IBC include a feeling of warmth in the breast and feelings of heaviness, burning, aching or itching.
In most cases there is no lump felt in the breast. You may also notice swollen lymph nodes under your arm and/or above the collarbone.
If there is a sudden onset of any of the signs and symptoms discussed above you should consult with your doctor.
However, these signs and symptoms can also be indicative of other types of cancer, infection or injury. It is important that an accurate diagnosis be made and the illness treated.
Because there is often no lump with IBC, it usually cannot be diagnosed using conventional methods used to detect breast cancer such as mammography or ultrasound.
IBC is difficult to diagnose and is often initially treated by doctors as a breast infection with a course of antibiotics. If signs and symptoms are persisting longer than a week after beginning medication then it is recommended that you return to your doctor and discuss the possibility of IBC and the need for a breast biopsy to identify if cancer cells are indeed present.
Ultimately, a person knows their own breasts best. It is important to be observant and make note of any changes that you might see or any feelings you develop. Do not delay consulting a doctor especially if there is a rapid onset of these signs or symptoms.
FYI
For more information on breast cancer contact the Cayman Islands Cancer Society at 949-7618 or attend one of the district awareness clinics and evenings organized by the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens during the month of October.
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