August 3, 2007
Continuing Education: Inflammatory Breast Cancer
This is a post originally written by WhyMommy here. I’m reposting it so that every woman learns more about Inflammatory Breast Cancer. IBC is life-threatening and after reading this post and learning of the symptoms, some of which I have, I decided to schedule an appointment to rule it out. It very well may be my own hypochondriac brain thinking I have cancer, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Please feel free to post this information on your blog and don’t forget to link to WhyMommy. Also, grab the button on my sidebar. Help us fight cancer together!
———-
We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?
I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.
Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.
Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.
There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.
Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.
You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.
———-
I scheduled my appointment to see my doctor today. If you think you have symptoms of IBC, please don’t wait to call your doctor. Check back here on Tuesday, August 7th, for the results of my appointment. — Dana
RSS feed for comments on this post.
TrackBack URI
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:54 PM, Violet the Verbose Says:
Okay, this is freaky since I am also sometimes a bit of a hypochondriac, one of my grandmothers died of breast cancer, and most of the symptoms listed are identical to mastitis and/or plugged ducts – and I’m nursing.
I’m glad you’re getting checked out and I hope to read good news on Tuesday!
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 PM, Dana Says:
Thanks Caroline! I think everything will be fine, but I’d like to be safe.
August 4th, 2007 at 7:15 AM, Whymommy Says:
I’m so glad that you’re getting checked out. Most times, it’s nothing — but just in case — and particularly if you have several of the symptoms above — it’s well worth being checked out by a GYN who is familiar with IBC. Good luck — and please let me know how it all turns out!
August 4th, 2007 at 4:26 PM, Amber Says:
Fantastic post, my dear. My Mother-in-law was recently retested for it and fortunately came up clean. Sadly, it is something women everywhere need to educate themselves about.
August 4th, 2007 at 5:51 PM, Dana Says:
WhyMommy, I was initially very afraid to make the appointment.
I read your post a few days after you wrote it, and I just sort of tuned it out because I have a family history of breast cancer and I thought if I ignore it I won’t have to face it.
But then I realized I’m being stupid and I don’t want to wake up one day and have it and never had done anything about it. You are truly an inspiration.
Amber — thanks for the support! I think we as women have to set a good example for others and for those who might be scared to have a test, like me.
-hugs to you all-
September 20th, 2007 at 11:17 AM, The Dana Files » And So It Goes… Says:
[...] next test was a skin punch biopsy. WhyMommy has Inflammatory Breast Cancer and some of the symptoms were so familiar to me, such as the itching of one breast and nipple. I [...]
October 20th, 2007 at 5:30 PM, swillparty Says:
I’d like to share with Black, as well Hispanic women, the name of an organization that empowers women affected by breast to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Living Beyond Breast Cancer (www.lbbc.org) also has specific literature aimed at the Black and Hispanic communities. Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC), founded in 1991, is a national nonprofit education and support organization serving women and families affected by breast cancer. LBBC’s mission is to empower all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. Programs and services include: conferences; teleconferences; the toll-free Survivors’ Helpline (888.753.5222); a website, lbbc.org; free quarterly newsletters; publications for African-American and Latina women; recordings; networking programs; healthcare-provider trainings; and the Paula A. Seidman Library and Resource Center. Support LBBC’s mission by purchasing a Women of SWILL 15-month wall calendar at http://www.swillparty.com. It’s not pink and it is a wall calendar which has received rave reviews from survivors of all ages. All of the proceeds, yes that’s 100%, will be donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. This highly popular calendar produced by the women of the SWILL (Several Wine Imbibers Liking Libations) social wine tasting club is sure to sell out soon, so get yours while supplies last. If you’re more comfortable, you may also purchaes it at Amazon.com (but they take a fairly large commission which means less for LBBC).
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:18 PM, Nancy Says:
hi my name is nancy i have those signs you spoke of rash and it changes in the nipple discharge i had a mamagram and ultrasound all neg but went to a skin doctor i go for a punch biopsy march 3 i am scared i have had vulva cancer before and my dad just died of cancer
April 9th, 2008 at 11:49 PM, Kandie Says:
My mom is currently dying of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. We found out three years ago. While I her daughter started to fall apart, she never did. My mom has had such a positive attitude, through out it all. Even now that she can’t get out of bed she still has a smile on her face. She’s my hero.
May 8th, 2008 at 5:05 AM, photos of inflammatory breast cancers Says:
[...] [...]