What is inflammatory breast cancer and how is it different from other types of breast cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a form of invasive breast cancer in which cancer cells grow and block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast, causing the skin to appear reddened, swollen or inflamed. It’s a relatively uncommon breast cancer, accounting for only about one to three percent of all breast cancers. But, it’s very serious, because it usually grows and spreads quickly. Inflammatory breast cancer forms in the lymph vessels of the breast skin, rather than as a solid tumor that can be felt as a lump. What are the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer? The symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of a breast infection (mastitis), so it’s important for women to be particularly aware of any changes in their breasts. Inflammatory breast cancer can cause any of the following symptoms: • Rapid swelling of the breast • Flattening or inverting of the nipple • Persistent itching of the breast or nipple • Ridges or pitting of the skin of the breast (like the skin of an orange) • Redn
