Inflammatory Breast Cancer may be rare, but when it does strike, it's very aggressive. This cancer had not had a lot of attention, thought that's changing now.
According to the National Cancer Institute, symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema (swelling) in the breast.
For more information on IBC, go to the NCI's site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/ibc
Below is a 6 minute news report on IBC. It includes pictures of what IBC looks like. I encourage everyone to watch it. Six minutes is a long time, but not if it saves your life!
~Anna Kathryn Lanier
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