Inflammatory Breast Cancer: A Rare But Aggressive Disease

 Not every breast cancer starts with a lump. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) often looks and feels different. It can cause redness, swelling or warmth instead of a lump you can feel. Because of that, diagnosis sometimes happens later than it should. Knowing what to look for — and acting quickly when something seems off — can make a real difference.

Key Takeaways

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is rare but grows and spreads faster than most other breast cancers.
• IBC often does not cause a lump or show up on a mammogram.
• Common symptoms include redness, swelling, warmth, pain or skin that looks like an orange peel.
• IBC is always considered advanced (stage 3 or higher) because it affects the skin and nearby lymph nodes.
• Pay attention to any breast changes right away so you can get answers and treatment sooner.

What Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but fast-growing type of breast cancer. It happens when cancer cells block the tiny lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This blockage traps fluid and causes swelling, warmth and changes in how the skin looks, such as redness or a thicker, pitted texture.

The American Cancer Society reports that IBC can appear and spread within just a few months. It often affects more than one-third of the breast. Because of its speed and how it involves the skin, IBC is always diagnosed as stage 3 or higher and may have already spread to nearby lymph nodes or other areas of the body.

What Are The Symptoms Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms appear suddenly — sometimes within weeks. It’s easy to confuse symptoms with an infection or skin irritation because it can develop so fast. See your doctor right away if you notice any of these changes:

• A breast that feels warm, heavy, firm or tender
• A nipple that turns inward or changes shape
• Itchiness, burning or pain in one breast
• One breast that becomes larger or more swollen than the other
• Skin that look spitted or dimpled (like an orange peel) or thick
• Swelling or redness that covers a large area, often more than one-third of the breast
• Swelling under the arm or near the collarbone(enlarged lymph nodes)

If your doctor first treats the symptoms as an infection and they don’t improve within a week, ask for more tests, such as imaging or a biopsy, to find the cause. If redness or swelling continues, especially if you’re not breastfeeding, ask for a follow-up visit right away.

Who Is Most At Risk For Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

While inflammatory breast cancer can affect anyone, research shows there is a higher risk among:

• Women under age 40
• Black women (diagnosed more often and at younger ages)
• People who are overweight or diagnosed with obesity

There’s no single habit or lifestyle factor that explains why inflammatory breast cancer develops. But when you know your personal risks and watch for early signs, you'll have the best chance to catch it early and start treatment quickly.

How Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer can be a challenge because it doesn’t usually form a lump. Instead, it changes the skin and tissue of the breast. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, perform a clinical breast exam and check for warmth, swelling and any skin changes.

If your doctor suspects IBC, your care team will order imaging tests and a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Common diagnostic tests include:

• Mammogram uses X-rays to look for abnormalities in breast tissue. Swelling can hide the changes, so IBC may not always show up on a mammogram.
• Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create detailed pictures of breast tissue and can help detect fluid buildup or thickened skin.
• Breast MRI produces detailed images of the breast and skin. It helps doctors see how much of the breast is affected and if lymph nodes look abnormal.
• Biopsy confirms the diagnosis. A small piece of breast tissue or skin is removed and examined under a microscope to look for cancer cells.

Your doctor may also order additional imaging scans, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan or a bone scan, to see whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Once test results are complete, your care team will talk with you about the stage of your cancer and create a treatment plan that fits your needs.

What Are The Treatment Options For IBC?

Because inflammatory breast cancer spreads quickly, treatment usually begins right after diagnosis.

Your treatment plan often involves several types of therapy working together. Your care team may include oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, nurses and other specialists who coordinate your care from start to finish.

Common treatments for inflammatory breast cancer

• Chemotherapy: This is usually the first step in treatment. Chemotherapy uses medicine to shrink the cancer before surgery and to target any cells that may have spread.
• Surgery: Most patients have a mastectomy, which removes the breast and nearby lymph nodes to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
• Radiation therapy: High-energy X-rays destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Radiation focuses on the chest wall and the area where lymph nodes were removed.
• Targeted therapy or immunotherapy: These newer treatments use medicines that find and attack cancer cells with specific features, such asHER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancers. Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system recognize and fight the cancer.
• Hormone therapy: This is for cancers that rely on hormones like estrogen or progesterone to grow. Hormone therapy blocks or lowers these hormones to slow or stop cancer growth.

Newer research and drug combinations improve survival rates and help lower the chance that IBC will return. Your Franciscan Health care team will guide you through each step and help you manage side effects and your overall well-being.

Can Inflammatory Breast Cancer Be Prevented?

Right now, there’s no known way to prevent inflammatory breast cancer. Doctors don’t yet understand exactly what causes it, and no lifestyle change can completely remove the risk.

What you can do is focus on early detection and body awareness. Pay attention to new breast changes, such as redness, swelling, warmth or thickened skin, especially if they happen quickly or don’t go away.

If something looks or feels different, call your doctor right away. Regular breast self-awareness matters just as much as routine mammograms. Even though IBC may not show up on a mammogram, you can notice changes sooner if you have a clear understanding of what’s normal for your breasts.

Also, maintain a healthy weight, stay active and limit alcohol to support your overall breast health. These steps can’t guarantee prevention, but they do help lower the risk for many types of breast cancer.

When To Call Your Doctor

Call your provider right away if you notice:

• A breast that changes size or shape or feels heavier than usual
• A nipple that becomes flat or turns inward
• Pain, itching or tenderness that doesn’t improve
• Redness, swelling or warmth that appears quickly
• Skin that looks thick, dimpled or bruised

These changes don’t always mean cancer, but you should always have them checked. Franciscan Health offers comprehensive breast care, including same-day diagnostic imaging and access to breast cancer specialists who focus on early detection and personalized treatment.