Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.

What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a rare, aggressive breast cancer (1-5% of cases) where cancer cells block lymph vessels, causing breast swelling/redness. It’s stage IIIB+ at diagnosis, with dermal lymphatic invasion. In 2025, ~4,000 US cases, median age 57, more in Black women.

Symptoms

Symptoms include rapid breast swelling/redness/warmth (>1/3 of breast), peau d’orange skin, heaviness, burning/aching pain, inverted nipple, swollen lymph nodes. Mimics mastitis. In 2025, symptoms prompt biopsy.

Causes

Causes include genetic mutations, with risk factors like obesity, younger age in Black women, family history. No strong HPV/tobacco links. In 2025, lymphangiogenesis is key.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis uses mammography/ultrasound (skin thickening), biopsy confirming dermal invasion, MRI for extent, PET-CT for staging. No lump often. In 2025, AI imaging aids.

Treatment

Neoadjuvant chemo (anthracyclines, taxanes), targeted (trastuzumab for HER2+), followed by mastectomy + radiation. Hormone therapy for ER+. In 2025, immunotherapy improves responses.

Future Outlook

In 2025, 5-year survival is 50-70%, better than 1980s (30%). Chemoimmunotherapy extends to 5 years. By 2030, biomarkers could raise to 80%.

Sources

The information for IBC is sourced from Cleveland Clinic’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment” for causes; Breastcancer.org’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Treatment, and Diagnosis” for diagnosis; National Breast Cancer Foundation’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer | Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment” for treatment; Mayo Clinic’s “Inflammatory breast cancer – Diagnosis and treatment” for treatment; NCBI’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer – StatPearls” for prognosis; UCSF’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer | UCSF Department of Surgery” for symptoms; Susan G. Komen’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) | Susan G. Komen®” for survival; PMC’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer: A Literature Review” for review; Rogel’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer | Diagnosis and Treatment” for diagnosis; Johns Hopkins’s “Inflammatory Breast Cancer | Johns Hopkins Medicine” for overview.