Inflammatory Breast Cancer - (IBC) Awareness

I want to further discuss a type of breast cancer that is rarely discussed by doctors and that is currently a battle faced by a friend and co-worker. I am hoping to spread awareness and knowledge on the topic with hopes that more people will start to discuss this rare form of breast and that more women will insist that their doctors discuss it with their patients.

Inflammatory breast cancer cannot be diagnosed by finding a lump or some form of mass in either or both breasts. Asking if a mass or lump was found is this most common question asked of all women, for determining if a lump or mass needs to be tested for a definite diagnosis or by doctor offices when they examine women during regular exams.

What I want is for women and any person that they trust to help them begin to look at their own breasts and make doctors be aware of any of these warning signs:

Symptoms:
1. One breast may be larger than the other one (many of us may experience this anyway, but if you have additional signs on this list, make sure you see your doctor and insist that he or she schedules an ultrasound or MRI or a mammogram if your insurance will pay for that);
2. red or pink coloration of the breast; we are the best evaluators of changes to our breasts; they are on our bodies and we need to pro-active in our own health;
3. discovery of a rash---a rash may occur on the entire breast or occur in small patches on the breasts; doctors may ask if you have had an allergic reaction to medications or food or insect bite or something else; make sure that this rash is not something that they evaluate will go away with a creme and may be something more serious;
4. the breast is hot to the touch---I know that many us will say that the breast can be hot to the touch during a menstrual cycle; but it is best to be safe than sorry;
5. the breast(s) will take an orange like texture; this is very key aspect of determining if you or someone you knows needs to see a doctor immediately; breasts should have a smooth feel and normal coloring;
6. there is pain in the breasts or itchiness---here is another example of why doctors will, especially in younger women, defer to a menstrual cycle; pay close attention to your body, at least once a week, or more if you have a history of breast cancer in your family to different changes in your body; you may have some tenderness in the breast or some itchiness if you have cysts in your breasts or fibroids or as a reaction to some medications; however, you must pay attention to all aspects of your breasts and document any changes with specifics to makes sure that you know when and why changes may have occurred;
7. the breast has a nipple discharge---this is one that may be obvious to some but others may not notice unless the discharge has a specific color or the discharge is blood; so, I would suggest to ask doctors as many questions as you want; if you have a discharge and may not be sure, call an emergency room, your doctor's office or a local clinic and they should answer your questions, if you are not sure; making an appointment is knowing may be better than waiting;
8. you find that one nipple is flat or inverted---this is a definite sign to see a doctor;
9. check to see if swollen lymph nodes under the armpit or sometimes around the collarbone/near the neck need the attention of a doctor---if you think that you have swollen lymph nodes, make a doctor appointment and get tested; the best way to know if swelling is just caused by a fungus or bacteria, a benign rash or an allergy to some forms of deodorant, perfumes, soaps, powders, body washes or cuts that get infected from shaving and then applying lotion or deodorant, make an appointment and find out; it is your health and we need to be more pro-active in managing it.

Yes. It is true that statistics indicate that women over the age of 45 are most likely to be diagnosed for this form of breast cancer. However, as many of us have recognized, breast cancers do not have an age limit or specific group of women that they only affect. Women as young as 18 years old face breast cancer. My sister knows a young girl who was diagnosed at 16 years old with breast cancer; she survived. Breast cancer can be diagnosed in many different ways and with many different technological devices.

For inflammatory breast cancer, the most effective way to determine this form of breast cancer is not through a mammogram, but with the use of ultrasounds and MRIs. Do not misunderstand; my co-worker and friend is over the age of 45 and she had visited her doctor for a yearly mammogram and the doctor saw a mass all over her breast. One of the most effective ways of determining if what he or she saw was correct was by an MRI that confirmed their initial diagnosis and the use of an ultrasound to determine if it had spread to her lymph nodes. Unfortunately, she is living with IBC, undergoing treatment, using alternative medicines, and fighting for her life everyday; fortunately, it had not spread to her lymph nodes with this first diagnosis.

I support the ultrasound and MRI system and think that this could be the most effective way and most approved method for young women to be checked for breast cancer, who are under the age of 40 and could even be more effective for women over the age of 45. Maybe, these systems could provide earlier detections and extend the lives of many women who have lost their battles to cancer. I am hopeful.

Women with IBC must endure various treatments after the diagnosis. They must endure extensive testing to determine the stage of cancer and course of treatment. Of course, a surgical biopsy is used in many procedures with women's health but more specifically with identifying the cancer cells, the likelihood of reoccurrence and the stage of cancer. Since this type of cancer grows in layers and in nests, it is vital to understand the extent of this disease in the diagnosed woman. For this point forward, further testing occurs with PET scans to determine if the cancer is spreading or where else it has spread to or may spread to. With this aggressive form of cancer, this type of testing is not optional but mandatory. A patient must get a complete picture of what it will take to fight against the cancer and improve chances of survival.

Part of this complete picture and plan of moving forward includes selection of trusted and recommended doctors, specialists, nurses, surgery such as a mastectomy, a double mastectomy, breast reconstruction, choosing wigs, scarves, fingernail polish for the bluish discoloration resulting from standard or oral chemotherapy if chemotherapy is selected, radiation treatments, job accommodations, alternative medicines to starve the cancer and prevent it from spreading further in the body, a writing journal to detail the journey, and support from family, friends, groups and organizations.

Like many suffering from this disease, my friend and co-worker was first diagnosed over 18 months ago and has undergone a mastectomy and had a breast reconstruction done. She had chemotherapy and radiation treatments that were intense and difficult for her. She was hospitalized several times with problems that she endured because of complications that occurred from procedures and treatments. Once it had been determined that she was cancer free and treatments ceased, her hair started to grow back, she ceased from taking the many medicines, vitamins and minerals that cancer patients must take to tolerate radiation and chemotherapy and again she felt a renewed hope for the future. She returned to work in December and at that time, she was cancer free. However, during the month of February of this year, she found a cyst around the area of the newly constructed breast and could never have imagined that she would get that same news again. The cancer had returned!

In fact, the cancer had spread to another area of her body and she is now undergoing treatments once again for reoccurrence of the cancer in her newly constructed breast and in her stomach. She has once again been treated with intense chemotherapy first. Following her chemotherapy sessions, which lasted for several weeks, she is now undergoing radiation treatments five days per week. She then comes to work in the mornings after her radiation treatments and we are happy to see her.

Yes, she has lost her hair again. Yes, she has lost some weight. Yes, she is wearing a beautiful wig. Yes, she looks well and has kept the bright smile. Yes, she is pleasant, but has some rough days. Yes, she upset that cancer is now a part of her life and no cure exists. Nonetheless, she has found that working with a nutritionist and eliminating fructose sugar intake, drinking plenty of water, juicing, getting plenty of rest and some exercise that she can tolerate helps her in many ways. Testing to see if the cancer has spread more or in other areas, it indicated that, the cancer has not spread further.

Medications such as Herceptin, which block the development of protein on the outside of the cancer cells, which signal them to grown is drug taken by breast cancer patients. In addition, Tykerb is another medication, which enters the cancer cell and blocks the cancer cell from growing. Also, there are many other drugs used to treat breast cancer patients, and many of the drugs include pain medication to help control the pain endured from radiation treatment, the existence of the cancer in the body or side effects. There are too many to name, but I just named a few to give a few examples.

Women with breast cancer should also consider clinical trials, alternative medicine and any regimen that they feel may work to improve their quality of life and survival rate.

I hope some introduction to Inflammatory Breast Cancer will draw attention to the need for more awareness. Look at IBC and help this form of awareness be discussed more, further recognized and properly handles. My hope is to one-day cure cancer.

Please proactively take your health into your own hands. If you feel something is wrong with your health, get tested, be insistent and document your symptoms. No one is perfect and no diagnosis is etched in stone. We can no longer sit back and put our own health into any person's hands. Remember that your life has a direct impact on those who love you as well.