About Us - About Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer INC

History- WHERE DID THIS COME FROM AND WHEN?

Fighting for the Tata's Breast Cancer INC

History

Inflammatory Breast Cancer was first described by Scottish Surgeon Sir Charles Bell in 1814, Sir Bell recognized the seriousness of a breast mass presenting with pain and skin discoloration. “When a purple color is on the skin over the tumor, accompanied by shooting pains, it is a very unpropitious beginning.”

1887: Thomas Bryant observed dermal lymphatic invasion by carcinoma, suggesting the obstruction could explain the gross inflammatory appearance, and it is without doubt the most acute and fatal form of cancer found in the breast. It spreads rapidly and kills quickly.

1909: Archibald Leitch describes the cause of “peau d’orange” translation: skin of an orange;

1924: Burton J. Lee and Norman E. Tannenbaum introduced the term “inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)” and considered it a distinct entity.

Inflammatory carcinoma of the female breast presents such unusual clinical manifestations that they are often misinterpreted by the physician who is first consulted.

1929: The average life expectancy for women (all races) was 58.7 years (60.3 years for white and 47.8 years for Black);

1956: "The first diagnostic criteria for IBC were published in 1956 by Haagensen[3] and are still widely used. A clinicopathological entity characterized by diffuse erythema and edema of the breast, often without an underlying palpable mass'.

1972: Report of a case – A 12-year-old girl consulted her family physician for a cutaneous eruption of the whole body, which was diagnosed as a viral exanthema. Results of physical examination at that time revealed a mass in the upper part of the left breast above a partially retracted nipple, and a definite enlargement of the left breast relative to the right. Surgery, 105(3), 505-8. No abstract available.

1997: The life expectancies were 79.4, 79.9, and 74.7 years, respectively.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2852616/

What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a rare form of breast cancer that progresses quickly, has a different phenotype, which means it looks and acts differently than other forms of breast cancer.

Its symptoms differ from those of more common breast cancers and can, therefore, be harder to diagnose and have shown to be more difficult to treat.

IBC is diagnosed as at least stage IIIB and, in some cases, approximately 30-35 percent of it has already spread to distant lymph nodes or organs and it is diagnosed as stage IV.

“IBC is entirely different from other types of breast cancer – as a result, the symptoms, prognosis, and outcomes all require specific, customized attention

May also be diagnosed as: Triple Negative IBC, Her2 Positive IBC, or Metastatic IBC.

According to: Paul H. Levine, MD, which means they developed from cells that line the milk ducts of the breast and then spread beyond the ducts.

This form does not typically fit any of the criteria recognize for breast cancer for reasons mainly still unknown. A disease in which It’s symptoms, prognosis (outlook), and outcomes all require specific, customized attention and treatment that differ from those of more common breast cancers and can, therefore, be harder to diagnose and have shown to be more difficult to treat. Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a rare and very aggressive breast cancer progresses rapidly, often in a matter of weeks or months. (IBC) spreads quickly to the breast lymphatics and is diagnosed as at least stage 111, 111a, 111b, 111c, and in some cases, approximately 30-35 percent of it has already spread to distant lymph nodes or organs and then it is diagnosed as stage IV, accounting for 1 to 5 or percent or higher of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States or Tunisia which means they developed from cells that line the milk ducts of the breast and then spread beyond the ducts. it affects young women that may not have any specific risk factors. According to Dr. Cristofanilli. “There are an estimated 15,000-20,000 new cases of IBC diagnosed annually. For more info, visit - http://hospitals.jefferson.edu/diseases-and-conditions/inflammatory-breast-cancer/

Inflammatory Breast Cancer signs and symptoms mimic mastitis. The rarity of IBC compared with the frequency of mastitis of the breast often results in a delay of a cancer work-up in favor of treating mastitis. This delay may affect the patient's clinical course thus increasing the possibility of spread of breast cancer and associated outcomes, according to: NAP and Paul H. Levine, MD; Author of Overcoming Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Do I Have IBC?

If you've been diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer, it's completely understandable if you're feeling overwhelmed. Keep in mind, though, that there are a variety of treatment options available for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

The most common symptom associated with IBC is swelling and redness of the breast. Women experience this due to the way IBC develops. Rather than growing in the milk ducts, this type of breast cancer develops in the lymph nodes. Cancer cells block these lymph nodes and cause fluid to build up in the skin. This buildup of fluid is the reason affected breasts become swollen.

Other changes in the breast skin are also symptoms. Some women with IBC may notice that their skin appears bruised, reddish purple, or pink. Meanwhile, others may experience peau d’orange. This is a condition that causes the skin to develop ridges or dimples like the skin of an orange.

Beyond these changes, IBC is sometimes signified by the nipple becoming inverted. The breast may feel warm or heavy compared to the unaffected breast. It may also become painful, tender, or itchy. In some cases, the breast also becomes harder.

Most of the symptoms of IBC are associated with other injuries and infections, such as mastitis. This infection of the breast is often seen among women who are breastfeeding. But it usually presents with a fever. Cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the breast skin, also shares some of IBC’s symptoms. These common symptoms can delay the diagnosis of IBC

SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMATORY BREAST CANCER

Inflammatory Breast Cancer symptoms differ from those of more common breast cancers and can therefore be harder to diagnose and have shown to be more difficult to treat and is more likely to come back after treatment than most other types of breast cancer.

Family physicians must recognize warning signs and differentiate IBC from the more common benign disorders. One of the main challenges of IBC is PROMPT recognition of IBC symptoms. Due to IBC being an aggressive form of cancer, the disease can progress rapidly within days, weeks, or months. everyone is different. Because of this, there aren’t any early-stage symptoms. You might not develop a lump that's characteristic of other breast cancers, but you may have several of the following symptoms: If any signs are present on or about the breast or surrounding area CONSULT A DOCTOR!. We need our doctors to know what they are looking at.

SKIN CHANGES – NOT LUMPS

Inflammatory breast cancer cells crowd into lymph vessels. Lymph vessels are small channels that hold a liquid (lymph) that helps the body fight infections and filter out harmful substances. When cancer cells block the lymph nodes, they make the breast change color or texture.

Skin Rash

Women with Inflammatory breast cancer can develop a red, pink, or purple rash across part of their breast. The red rash may not be noticeable to the darker pigmentation. If you have symptoms like these, have them checked out be a doctor right away. Inflammatory breast cancer can spread quickly.

Breast Discoloration

Another early sign of inflammatory breast cancer is discoloration of the breast. On light pigmentation you may find pink or reddish purple on more than 1/3rd of the breast and on darker pigmentation you may find reddish undertones on more than 1/3rd of the breast. The discoloration can look like a big bruise, bug bite that does not go away or like the lead of a pencil (NOT A LUMP). You might shrug it off as nothing serious. However, breast redness is a classic symptom of inflammatory breast cancer. Do not ignore unexplained bruising on your breast.

Sudden change in breast size

Inflammatory breast cancer changes the appearance of the breasts, and this change can occur suddenly overnight

Because this cancer causes inflammation and swelling, it is common to have breast enlargement or thickness. The affected breast may appear noticeably larger than the other breast or feel heavy and hard. Some women with IBC also experience breast shrinkage, where their breast decreases in size. It can be difficult to notice subtle changes in your breast. If you've always had symmetrical breasts and you notice a sudden increase or decrease in the size of one breast, speak with your doctor to rule out inflammatory breast cancer.

Breast pain

In cases where breast cancer causes a lump, the tumor may not create pain or discomfort but because there is no pain, most women don't suspect cancer until their doctor feels a lump during a physical examination, or until they discover one during a self-examination. The situation is very different with inflammatory breast cancer.

Due to the inflammatory nature of this particular cancer, your breast will look and feel different. For example, inflammation can cause your breast to feel warm, feverish or may feel hot to the touch. You may also have breast tenderness and Stabbing pain, soreness, aching or heaviness of the breast. Lying on your stomach can be uncomfortable, and depending on the severity of tenderness, wearing a bra can be painful. In addition to pain and tenderness, IBC can cause persistent itching of breast or nipple (not Relieved with cream). around the breast.

PEAU D’ ORANGE (SKIN DIMPLING)

Another sign of inflammatory breast cancer is skin dimpling or pitted skin around the breast. The skin of the breast may take on a different texture. It often looks like the peel of an orange. Sometimes this is called peau d’orange, which means “orange skin” in French. The dimpled appearance is created when cancer cells block the lymph vessels under the skin, forming tiny bumps and ridges.

Change in nipple appearance

A change in the shape of the nipple is another sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Your nipple may become flat or retract inside the breast. A pinch test can help determine if your nipples are flat or inverted. Place your thumb and index finger around your areola and gently squeeze. A normal nipple moves forward after pinching whereas a flat nipple does not move forward or backward. A pinch causes an inverted nipple to retract into the breast.

Having flat or inverted nipples doesn’t necessarily mean you have inflammatory breast cancer. These types of nipples are normal for some women and are no cause for concern. On the other hand, if your nipples “suddenly” change and become flat or inverted, speak with the doctor.

Enlarged lymph nodes

IBC can cause swelling of lymph nodes. If you suspect the disease, check the lymph nodes under your arm and above your collarbone for signs of swelling.

How Do They Diagnose It?

Diagnostic criteria — Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is designated as T4d in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Tumor

Because inflammatory breast cancer forms in layers, your doctor may not feel a distinct lump during a breast exam and a mammogram may not detect one either. In most cases, inflammatory breast cancer is diagnosed after you or your doctor can see or feel breast changes such as redness, swelling, warmth, or an orange-peel look to the skin. Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a clinical Diagnosis (meaning visual) not a pathology diagnosis.

It used to be the relative rarity of IBC was a major reason why primary care physicians, including ob-gyn doctors, are unfamiliar with the disease and initially miss the diagnosis. Physicians must be able to recognize IBC, be aware that breast cancer is not always painless, and never think that a patient is too young to have breast cancer. According to: Paul Levine

There are still many doctors and other health professionals who still have not heard of IBC because it used to be rare. However, the incidence of IBC is rising at an alarming rate, According to: Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli

IBC is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer because it can be missed on a mammogram, doesn’t usually present with a lump, is often misdiagnosed, and spreads quickly. In fact, about 30 percent of those diagnosed with IBC are initially diagnosed with metastatic disease, meaning their cancel has already spread to other parts of the body. Clinical trials for new therapies often either restrict enrollment of IBC patients or combine their outcomes with non-IBC patients, limiting our understanding of this form of breast cancer.

Because inflammatory breast cancer lies in sheets or (nests), and not lumps your doctor may not feel a distinct lump during a breast exam and a mammogram may not detect one either this makes diagnosis harder than with other breast cancers.

Diagnosing Inflammatory Breast Cancer can be difficult since the cancer is not seen on mammograms, and mammograms are often painful and difficult for patients with a tender and swollen breast, dedicated breast MRI, ultrasound of the breast and local nodes, CT and/or PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan can provide important information in making a correct diagnosis and appropriate staging of IBC. A clinician or breast oncologist who has experience with IBC can provide additional expertise in guiding the diagnosis of this form of breast cancer.

The symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer may be mistaken for those of mastitis, which is an infection of the breast. Most IBC patients are young women. It often strikes very young to young women before the recommended age 40.

Family physicians are usually the entry point to the health care system and are well positioned to assess inflammation of the breast and recognize the warning signs of an underlying inflammatory breast cancer. They are also important members of the team that provides support for breast cancer patients during treatment, follow-up, and end-of-life care.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a relatively rare subtype of breast cancer, patients diagnosed with IBC faces many barriers throughout their diagnosis and treatment; anyone who has been through the experience will tell you the same thing. Because there is such limited education and knowledge about IBC, patients can suffer for weeks before they are accurately diagnosed – and unfortunately because IBC spreads so rapidly, they just don’t have any time to spare. According to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer International Consortium. Like other types of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer can occur in men.

If you have any of the warning signs listed above and they last longer than a week, tell your health care provider. It’s always OK to get a second opinion if you’re not comfortable with your health care provider’s recommendation.

Tests for Diagnosis

Inflammatory breast cancer, due to the rapid spread is sometimes found between the routine mammogram exams.

To diagnose inflammatory breast cancer, your doctor will perform a biopsy. Biopsy is a surgical procedure that removes some of the suspicious breast tissue for examination under a microscope.

Because inflammatory breast cancer usually does not begin as a distinct lump, but instead as changes to the skin, a skin punch biopsy is often used to make the diagnosis. If your doctor can see a distinct lesion, he or she may perform an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy. Ultrasound is an imaging method that places a sound-emitting device on the breast to obtain images of the tissues inside. Guided by the ultrasound, the doctor inserts a hollow needle into the breast to remove several cylinder-shaped samples of tissue from the area of suspicion.

If the biopsy shows that inflammatory breast cancer is present, your doctor will order additional tests to figure out how much of the breast tissue and lymph nodes are involved, and whether or not the other breast is affected. Breast MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is considered the most reliable test for gathering more information about inflammatory breast cancer.

Once IBC is diagnosed,

additional tests are used to determine whether the cancer has spread outside the breast to other organs, such as the lungs, bones, or liver. This is called staging. Tests that may be used include Chest X-ray - CT scan (computerized tomography) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Another test is the positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging technique that creates detailed, computerized pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A PET scan can be used to detect cancerous tissues and cells in the body that may not always be found through computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bone scan to look for spread (metastasis) to the bones and liver function tests.

Multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scan some, cancer treatments, such as certain chemotherapy drugs, can cause changes in heart function. Multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scans are used to evaluate and monitor changes in the function of the heart throughout a patient’s treatment. MUGA scans help determine if the heart is pumping blood properly and, ultimately, if needed to modify a patient’s treatment regime.

Another test is the positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging technique that creates detailed, computerized pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A PET scan can be used to detect cancerous tissues and cells in the body that may not always be found through computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Definitive Diagnosis

To help prevent delays in diagnosis and in choosing the best course of treatment, an international panel of experts published guidelines on how doctors can diagnose and stage inflammatory breast cancer correctly. Their recommendations are summarized below.

Minimum criteria for a diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer include the following:

The above-mentioned symptoms have been present for less than 6 months.
The redness covers at least a third of the breast.
Initial biopsy samples from the affected breast show invasive carcinoma

Even if imaging tests show suspicious for breast cancer, definitive diagnosis requires a tissue sample, or biopsy. A biopsy may be taken of a small area of the breast ( an incisional biopsy), or the entire abnormal area may be removed at the time of biopsy (excisional biopsy). Biopsy allows the pathologist (a physician with special training in the diagnosis of diseases based on tissue samples) to determine if breast cancer is present, and if so, what type of breast cancer. Biopsy also provides a tissue sample for further tests that are done to determine the best type of treatment. The diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer can be challenging.

YOUR PATHOLOGY REPORT

The breast tissue removed during a biopsy is sent to a pathologist. A pathologist is the doctor who looks at the tissue under a microscope and determines whether or not the tissue contains cancer.

The pathologist prepares a report of the findings, including the diagnosis, and sends it to your surgeon (or your oncologist).

Ideally, a medical team that includes your oncologist, radiologist, surgeon and pathologist will plan your treatment. Ask for a copy of your pathology report for your medical records.

Biopsy and IBC diagnosis

IBC may be diagnosed based on clinical appearance, but a biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer.

A biopsy also gives information on the tumor, these factors help guide treatment

Stages of inflammatory breast cancer

If you've been diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), you'll want to know what stage it is. The answer will help you and your doctor know more about what is ahead and decide your treatments. Staging is the extent or severity of an individual's cancer. For inflammatory breast cancer once the tests are complete, your doctor will describe inflammatory breast cancer as stage IIIB, stage IIIC, or state IV.

Stage IIIB means the cancer has spread to tissues near the breast, such as the skin or chest wall, including the ribs and muscles in the chest. The cancer may have spread to lymph nodes within the breast or under the are, making it micro-metastatic.
Stage IIIC means the cancer has spread to lymph nodes beneath the collarbone and near the neck. The breast cancer also may have spread to lymph nodes within the breast or under the arm and to tissues near the breast.
Stage IV means that the cancer has spread to other organs. These can include the bones, lungs, liver, and/or brain, as well as the lymph nodes in the neck.

PROGNOSIS

Inflammatory Breast Cancer prognosis (outlook) is generally not as good as it is for most other types of breast cancer and is more likely to come back after treatment than most other types of breast cancer. Prognosis describes the likely course and outcome of a disease that is, the chance that a patient will recover or have a recurrence. IBC is more likely to have metastasized (spread to other areas of the body) at the time of diagnosis than non-IBC cases.

Progress has been made in defining the risk factors for developing Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) and discovering what determines long term survival if we can educate primary care doctors, obgyn and specialists who might encounter patients with IBC and stop misdiagnosing and underreporting this sub-type of locally advance breast cancer.

As a result of better recognition of the disease and advances in therapy, there have been improvements in outcomes for patients with IBC over time. An analysis of patients with Stage 111 IBC in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Registry was performed for patients diagnosed within four time periods covering two decades. Two-year breast cancer specific survival rates increased with time as follows: 62% from 1990-1995, 67% from 1996-2000, 72% from 2001-2005, and 76% from 2006-2010. According to Paul H. Levine, MD

Many factors can influence a patient’s prognosis, including the type and location of the cancer, the stage, the patient’s age and overall health, and the extent to which IBC responds to treatment. The prognosis, or likely outcome, for a patient diagnosed with cancer is often viewed that the cancer will be treated successfully and that the patient will recover completely. IBC usually develops quickly and spreads aggressively to other parts of the body, therefore women diagnosed with this disease, in general, do not survive as long as women diagnosed with other types of breast cancer according to statistics from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Treatment Involves Chemo and Surgery

Because inflammatory breast cancer often spreads quickly, your doctor may recommend tests to see whether your cancer has spread beyond the area of the breast. These may include a bone scan, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound or other tests. Most patients do not have detectable disease beyond the breast and underarm at diagnosis, but in those cases where there is metastasis; treatment may differ, so it can be important to check. Your doctor may also order tests to check your general level of health before beginning treatment or to test your eligibility for a clinical trial, or to monitor your tolerance of the treatment. You should feel free to ask what any test is for, and to refuse it if you aren't comfortable with the answer.

Treatment consisting of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy is used to treat IBC. Chemotherapy (a combination of drugs to kill cancer cells) is generally the first treatment for patients with IBC and is called neoadjuvant therapy. Preoperative Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment to help shrink the tumor, which means that it affects cells throughout the body. The purpose of chemotherapy is to control or kill cancer cells, including those that may have spread to other parts of the body. After chemotherapy, patients with IBC may undergo surgery, most often a modified radical mastectomy (to remove the breast and affected lymph nodes and radiation therapy to the chest wall (which uses high-power energy beams to destroy and stop the spread of cancerous cells). After initial systemic and local treatment, patients with IBC may receive additional systemic treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence (cancer coming back).

Treatment for inflammatory breast cancer is usually more aggressive than treatment for most other types of breast cancer.

A breast cancer diagnosis is devastating and frightening, but your chances of beating the disease increase with an early diagnosis and beginning treatment as soon as possible. While undergoing treatment, seek support to cope with your disease. Recovery can be a roller coaster of emotions, so it is important to learn about your condition and treatment options, and you should seek support from others. This could include joining a local support group for cancer patients and survivors, working with a therapist who helps cancer patients, as well as confiding in family and friends.

Inflammatory breast cancer vs. Mastitis (breast infection)

If you have any of the above symptoms, you might think you have inflammatory breast cancer. Before you panic, it’s important to note that IBC symptoms can mimic those of mastitis, a breast infection.

Mastitis can cause swelling, pain, and redness around the breasts.This condition is more common in breast-feeding.

women but can also develop in women who don’t breast-feed. The infection can be caused by a blocked milk duct, or bacteria entering the skin through a crack or break around the nipple.

A primary difference between mastitis and inflammatory breast cancer is that mastitis may also cause a fever, a headache, and nipple discharge. These three symptoms are not typical of IBC. Since the symptoms of mastitis and inflammatory breast cancer are similar, you should never diagnose yourself with either condition. Let your doctor make the diagnosis. If you have mastitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Your symptoms should improve within a couple of days. Mastitis can sometimes cause a breast abscess, which your doctor may have to drain.

If your doctor diagnoses mastitis but the infection does not improve or worsens, follow up with another appointment. Mastitis that does not respond to antibiotics could actually be inflammatory breast cancer. Your doctor can schedule an imaging test or a biopsy to diagnose or rule out cancer. Treating the wrong condition can delay the care needed to treat IBC.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is often misdiagnosed by physicians, surgeons, and oncologists as a breast infection (mastitis); why, because most have little to no experience with IBC. Since most never see a case they treat what they see most often, breast infections. By not recognizing IBC, they prescribe a round of antibiotics and ointments. If symptoms do not go away after seven to ten days, you should consult your doctor for a referral to a Breast Specialist or ask for a needle or core biopsy immediately. By the time the cancer is properly diagnosed it is already quite advanced and have spread to other areas of the body leaving its victims with poor prospects of survival.

Metastases and IBC

About one-third of women with IBC have metastases when they are diagnosed [. This means the cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body such as the bones, lungs, liver or brain.

For this reason, when IBC is diagnosed, tests for metastases are done to see if it has spread to other parts of the body

What types of Doctors Understands and Treat IBC?

When selecting your healthcare team, choose doctors with experience treating Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). You need an oncologists and surgeons an experienced multidisciplinary team who specialize in IBC. (a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and surgical oncologist) team with demonstrated expertise in the management of this condition and access to more advanced diagnostic tests and new drugs. Inflammatory Breast Cancer involves the entire breast, skin of the breast, and axillary lymph nodes. These providers work as a team and will call in additional specialists as needed (radiation oncologist).

Search for clinical trials on Inflammatory breast cancer and find the names of doctors coordinating the studies. If you do not live near a health center with a doctor specializing in Inflammatory breast cancer, consider traveling outside your area for a second opinion on your treatment plan or contact, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer, Inc. (www.fighting4thetatas.org)

Ongoing Monitoring

After treatment ends, you will see your oncologist every three to six months for the first one to two years; then every six to 12 months for the next three to four years; and then once a year. If you had a lumpectomy, you will get a mammogram or MRI on the remaining breast or breasts.

When you see your doctor, bring your questions. Make sure to tell your oncologist about any new headaches, pains or problems that are out of the ordinary, more severe or last longer than before.

Not having routine tests and scans after treatment ends may increase your fears. You have been through a lot, and you want to know whether the treatment worked. You may feel powerless, but there are things you can do.

Pay attention to your body. Your doctor will give you thorough exams, and you should share your medical history at that time. Do not hesitate to tell your doctor if you aren’t feeling well. You know your body better than anyone, so you are the key to helping your doctor do what is best for you. Doctors find more recurrences through physical exams and good health histories than through testing.

Fear of Recurrence

With Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), the risk of a metastatic recurrence, the breast cancer coming back outside the breast, is strongest in the first five years after your diagnosis. Aggressive cancer cells may travel from the breast to other parts of the body. These cells move through the blood- stream and the pathways that carry fluid away from the breast to the lymph nodes, called the lymphatic channels. The goal of chemotherapy is to kill these stray cells and lower your risk of recurrence.

After five years, your risk of recurrence goes down. In fact, as time goes on, your risk for recurrence may be lower than that of someone treated for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

If you still have breast tissue after surgery, the risk for developing a new breast cancer in the same or opposite breast does not decrease over time. Keep up with regular doctor’s appointments to find any new breast cancer.

Most women with Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) May be overwhelmed by worries about breast cancer returning. Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays can bring these emotions to the surface, as can news about a friend, family member diagnosis. Your fears may be stronger before you go for follow-up appointments and when you wait for test results. To lower your anxiety, share your fears with a trusted friend or support group.

Medical Disclaimer

The information contained on “Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Corporation” web site is presented for the purpose of educating people on Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Nothing contained on this web site should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified health care provider promptly.

WHAT IS IBC