Ruthie, so very sorry for your loss. Sixteen months is such a short time.
For others who may not have heard, IBC stands for Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Here is a bit of what the Mayo Clinic says about the definition and symptoms
"Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that develops rapidly, making the affected breast red, swollen and tender. It's a locally advanced cancer, meaning it has spread from its point of origin to nearby tissue and possibly to nearby lymph nodes.
"The early signs of more-common forms of breast cancer — a breast lump or suspicious area on a routine, screening mammogram — are often absent in inflammatory breast cancer. Instead, the breast may appear normal until tumor cells invade and block lymphatic vessels in the overlying skin. Fluid backs up, and the breast swells and becomes discolored.
"Inflammatory breast cancer can easily be confused with a breast infection, but if it's cancer, symptoms won't go away with antibiotics. Seek medical attention promptly if you notice skin changes on your breast, to help distinguish a breast infection from other breast disorders."
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Ruthie, so very sorry for your loss. Sixteen months is such a short time.
For others who may not have heard, IBC stands for Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Here is a bit of what the Mayo Clinic says about the definition and symptoms
"Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that develops rapidly, making the affected breast red, swollen and tender. It's a locally advanced cancer, meaning it has spread from its point of origin to nearby tissue and possibly to nearby lymph nodes.
"The early signs of more-common forms of breast cancer — a breast lump or suspicious area on a routine, screening mammogram — are often absent in inflammatory breast cancer. Instead, the breast may appear normal until tumor cells invade and block lymphatic vessels in the overlying skin. Fluid backs up, and the breast swells and becomes discolored.
"Inflammatory breast cancer can easily be confused with a breast infection, but if it's cancer, symptoms won't go away with antibiotics. Seek medical attention promptly if you notice skin changes on your breast, to help distinguish a breast infection from other breast disorders."
Here's the Mayo Clinic page:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/inflammatory-breast-cancer/DS00632
March 2, 2009 - 9:12amThis Comment
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