[Histonet] Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

[Horn, Hazel V]

Inflammatory breast cancer is not new.    It is a serious high-risk
cancer.   
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From the IBC website:
 
There is more than one kind of breast cancer.
We have been taught and are reminded frequently by public service
announcements and by the medical community that when a woman discovers a
lump on her breast she should go to the doctor immediately.

Inflammatory breast cancer usually grows in nests or sheets, rather than
as a confined, solid tumor and therefore can be diffuse throughout the
breast with no palpable mass. The cancer cells clog the lymphatic system
just below the skin. Lymph node involvement is assumed.  Increased
breast density compared to prior mammograms should be considered
suspicious.

You Don't Have to Have a Lump to Have Breast Cancer.
Some women who have inflammatory breast cancer may remain undiagnosed
for long periods, even while seeing their doctor to learn the cause of
her symptoms.  The symptoms are similar to mastitis, a breast infection
and some doctors, not recognizing IBC, will prescribe antibiotics. If a
response to antibiotics is not apparent after a week, a biopsy should be
performed or a referral to a breast specialist is warranted.

Age 52:  Median age at time of diagnosis of IBC ... versus, 
Age 62: Median age at time of diagnosis of Breast Cancer.
A surprising portion of young women with IBC had their first symptoms
during pregnancy or lactation.  The misconception that these young women
are at lower risk for breast cancer and the fact that IBC is the most
aggressive form of breast cancer may result in metastases when the
diagnosis is made.

 
One or more of the following are Typical Symptoms of IBC:

Swelling, usually sudden, sometimes a cup size in a few days 

Itching 

Pink, red, or dark colored area (called erythema) sometimes with texture
similar to the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange) 

Ridges and thickened areas of the skin 

What appears to be a bruise that does not go away 

Nipple retraction 

Nipple discharge, may or may not be bloody 

Breast is warm to the touch 

Breast pain (from a constant ache to stabbing pains) 

Change in color and texture of the aureole 

View pictures showing common presentation of some of these symptoms.

Read what patients write about their own symptoms prior to diagnosis.

View a 4:23 minute video about IBC shown on NBC5 in Chicago.

These Symptoms May Be Present in Benign Breast Disorders. See your
doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer is typically abbreviated as IBC.
Non-inflammatory breast cancer may include in its diagnosis the terms
"in situ breast cancer," "infiltrating breast cancer," or "invasive
breast cancer" all of which may be abbreviated with "ibc," but those
terms alone do not specify inflammatory breast cancer.  To add to the
possible confusion, the diagnosis may include more that one kind of
breast cancer; for example "inflammatory breast cancer, invasive ductal
carcinoma, and mucinous carcinoma" all in the same breast.  So if a
person you know has been described as having IBC or ibc, it may be well
to ask what that is abbreviating, since it may not be "inflammatory
breast cancer" and therefore the symptoms and other information
presented here may not apply.



Hazel Horn
Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP)
Supervisor of Histology
Arkansas Children's Hospital
800 Marshall    Slot 820
Little Rock, AR   72202

phone   501.364.4240
fax        501.364.3912

visit us on the web at:    www.archildrens.org


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Ford
Royer
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 10:02 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

I just received an email from a subscriber to this list with a video
attachment of a local newscast regarding Inflammatory Breast Cancer
(IBC).
I had never heard of this condition and I was wondering (1) if it has
been
around for some time and (2) if there is/are special diagnostic
procedures,
other than mammogram (i.e. IHC) for it.

Any history on this disease would be appreciated.  I have not heard of
it
before now.

Link to newscast:
<http://ww3.komotv.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=785456&
>

~ Ford 

Ford M. Royer, MT(ASCP)
Histology Product Manager
Minnesota Medical, Inc.
7177 Madison Ave. W.
Golden Valley, MN 55427-3601
CELL:  612-839-1046
Phone:  763-542-8725
Fax:  763-546-4830
eMail:  froyer <@t> bitstream.net



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