The purpose of IBC Network Foundation is simple:
1. To fund research regarding Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
2. To provide an avenue to network proactive education to the general population as well as the medical community regarding Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
IBC is a very aggressive more rare for of breast cancer, in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or “inflamed.”
Mammograms tend to miss IBC, as it is webby and scattered in the breast like cotton candy, making it difficult for a mammogram to read. About 10% of women with IBC do have a lump, but with the other 90% not having a readable lump, you can understand why we use the tag line, "No Lump, Still Cancer."
IBC progresses rapidly, often in a matter of weeks or months. The earliest IBC can be diagnosed is stage three, so if a women is having signs of IBC, a visit to physician to rule it out needs to be arranged as soon as possible.
There is a quick check list of symptoms of IBC.
Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms may include:
• Breast swelling, where one breast is suddenly larger than the other
• Breast that feels warm to touch and may look infected
• Itching or shooting pain
• A dimpling of the breast skin that looks like an orange peel (peau d’orange)
• Thickening of the skin
• Flattened or discolored nipple
• Swelling in underarm or only on one side of neck
• Might feel lump, however lumps are not common in IBC