You may be aware that cancer can be of many types depending on the part of the body it affects. There is skin cancer, blood cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and many more. But did you know that these individual cancers are further of many types?
Talking about breast cancer in particular, Cancer Research UK shared that breast cancer in women is one of the most common types of cancer in the world, and there are 11 types of breast cancer and related breast conditions. One of these is the rare and aggressive Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). To know more about this type of breast cancer, the OnlyMyHealth team spoke to Dr Rohan Khandelwal, Lead Consultant, Oncology & Head, Breast Centre, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.
What Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
Dr Khandelwal said, “Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive type of breast cancer in which the skin overlying the breast swells up and it starts looking like an orange peel, along with a live lump inside the breast. If this kind of skin patch covers more than one-third of the breast then we start calling it inflammatory breast cancer.”
Cancer Research UK stated that IBC develops more quickly than other types of cancer and occurs in less than 5% of all breast cancer cases. “These cancers are more aggressive, increase in size rapidly, and can spread to other organs as well,” said Dr Khandelwal.
How To Identify Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
IBC is often mistaken for other diseases by the patients and vice versa. “Women can get a similar rash to IBC if they have a skin condition like eczema or experience excessive sweating. However, these rashes heal with time and medicines. If the rash or swelling on the breast does not heal, the person is likely dealing with IBC,” said Dr Khandelwal.
Talking about ways to identify IBC as opposed to other types of breast cancer, he explained that any type of breast cancer is diagnosed by doing a biopsy of the lump or skin lesions of the breast. However, “for IBC, the doctor will recommend a full body scan to see if cancer has spread anywhere else from the breasts,” he elucidated.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment
“There is no point in doing surgery first for a patient of IBC. The first mode of treatment should be chemotherapy which can help shrink the tumours and recover the affected part of the breast. Only then surgery should be done to treat IBC,” said Dr Khandelwal.
Cancer Research UK shared that the treatment approach for your IBC will be determined by several factors:
- Receptor Status: Whether your cancer cells have receptors for specific drugs, such as HER2 receptors, influences the type of treatment prescribed.
- Overall Health: Your general health and any existing medical conditions are considered to tailor a suitable treatment plan.
You may be wondering, why do I need to know about a disease that is so rare and chances are you may never get it. The point is, that you never know when the odds are stacked against you or those you love. That is why it is essential to be aware and have the knowledge, so you are equipped to handle any adverse situation. In case you do suspect that you have IBC, consult a healthcare provider immediately, do not self-diagnose, and have an open conversation with your healthcare providers to fully comprehend the treatments offered and their rationale.