What Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer or IBC

Just when I think that I might be getting a bit of a handle on the various types of breast cancers and how they most frequently manifest themselves, I somehow manage to come across something that once again startles me. I am the first to acknowledge that there are many different types of breast cancers but recently I saw a discussion about Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), a type of breast cancer that I had not previously encountered. Of course, I had to research this and found a site that provided me with some great information that I felt compelled to share. While IBC is rare, accounting for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United States, it is serious and very aggressive. But what was most surprising to me is that it does not usually produce an obvious lump like most other types of breast cancer. Furthermore, IBC produces symptoms that are quite similar to those of a breast infection. This sometimes delays a proper diagnosis. Most importantly to note is that none of us are medical professionals and just as we should immediately consult our primary care physician if we find a lump in our breast, we should also contact our physician when we note other signs of change in our breast. If you have red or swollen breasts, you don't need to be told that something is wrong. However, as these can be signs of either a breast infection or inflammatory breast cancer, your response should be immediate. And regardless of which may be the cause in your particular case, t...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news