Summary about Disease
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer. Unlike other forms of breast cancer, it often doesn't present as a distinct lump. Instead, it causes the skin of the breast to appear red, swollen, and inflamed. This is due to cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin. IBC tends to grow and spread rapidly, making early detection and treatment crucial.
Symptoms
Rapid change in the appearance of one breast over weeks or months.
Swelling (edema) of the breast.
Redness (erythema) covering a significant portion of the breast.
Skin of the breast may look pitted and thickened, similar to an orange peel (peau d'orange).
Breast may feel warm or heavy.
Nipple may be retracted or inverted.
Swollen lymph nodes under the arm.
Tenderness, pain, or itching in the breast.
Causes
The exact cause of inflammatory breast cancer is not fully understood. Like other cancers, it is believed to arise from a combination of genetic mutations and environmental factors. IBC occurs when cancer cells infiltrate the lymphatic vessels of the skin of the breast. Risk factors are similar to those of other breast cancers, including:
Female sex
Increasing age
Family history of breast cancer
Obesity
Race: IBC is diagnosed more often in African-American women.
Medicine Used
Treatment for inflammatory breast cancer typically involves a combination of systemic therapies and local treatments. Common medications include:
Chemotherapy: Often used as the first line of treatment to shrink the tumor. Common drugs include anthracyclines (doxorubicin, epirubicin), taxanes (paclitaxel, docetaxel), and others.
Hormone Therapy: If the cancer is hormone receptor-positive (estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor-positive), medications like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors (e.g., letrozole, anastrozole) may be used.
Targeted Therapy: If the cancer is HER2-positive, drugs that target the HER2 protein, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab, and others, are used.
Immunotherapy: In some cases, immunotherapy drugs may be considered.
Is Communicable
No, inflammatory breast cancer is not communicable. It is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.
Precautions
Since the causes are not completely understood, specific precautions to entirely prevent inflammatory breast cancer are not well-defined. However, general measures to reduce breast cancer risk may be beneficial:
Maintain a healthy weight.
Engage in regular physical activity.
Limit alcohol consumption.
Consider breastfeeding, if possible.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, discuss screening and risk reduction strategies with your doctor.
How long does an outbreak last?
Inflammatory breast cancer isn't an "outbreak" in the sense of an infectious disease. It's a cancer that progresses rapidly. Without treatment, the symptoms worsen over weeks or months. The duration of the disease, if untreated, depends on how quickly it spreads. With treatment, the goal is to control the cancer and prolong life.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer typically involves:
Physical Exam: The doctor will examine the breast for signs of redness, swelling, and skin changes.
Imaging Tests: Mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI scans can help visualize the breast tissue and surrounding areas.
Biopsy: A skin biopsy is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis. A sample of skin from the affected area is examined under a microscope for cancer cells and to evaluate the HER2 and hormone receptor status.
Further Staging: Once diagnosed, additional tests, such as a bone scan, CT scan, or PET scan, may be done to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).
Timeline of Symptoms
The timeline of symptoms in inflammatory breast cancer is typically rapid:
Weeks to Months: Symptoms develop and worsen quickly. Redness, swelling, and skin changes can appear in a relatively short period.
Progression: Without treatment, the cancer can spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body relatively quickly.
Important Considerations
Early Detection: Because inflammatory breast cancer is aggressive, early detection and prompt treatment are critical.
Multidisciplinary Approach: Treatment is complex and usually requires a team of specialists, including a medical oncologist, a surgical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist.
Clinical Trials: Patients with inflammatory breast cancer should consider participating in clinical trials to evaluate new treatments and improve outcomes.
Psychosocial Support: A cancer diagnosis can be emotionally challenging. Support groups, counseling, and other resources can help patients and their families cope with the disease.