Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it affected 20.3 lakh women in 2022 and caused 6.7 lakh deaths worldwide. Unfortunately, nearly half of all breast cancers occur in women, with no specific risk factors other than sex and age.
Interestingly, there are many different types of breast cancer, including inflammatory breast cancer. Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Rohan Khandelwal, Lead Consultant - Oncology and Head of the Breast Centre, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, says that it is the most aggressive form of breast cancer. It leads to various symptoms, one of the most common being breast rashes, which can often be confused with other types of skin rashes.
What Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer in which the cancer cells often block the small lymph vessels or lymph ducts in the breast. Lymph vessels are a part of the lymphatic system, which is an integral part of the immune system. It maintains fluid levels and also defends the body from foreign invaders that cause infections.
Describing the condition, Dr Khandelwal says that it can cause the skin overlying the breast to swell up, making the breast look like an orange peel.
As per the doctor, if this kind of appearance involves more than one third of the breast, then it could be a telltale sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Moreover, patients may also have a live lump inside the breast, he adds.
According to Cancer Research UK, this rare condition affects about 5 in 100 breast cancer patients.
How Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Different From A Typical Breast Cancer?
Unlike typical breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer is very aggressive. It focuses on blocking lymph vessels in the breast skin, leading to inflammation and causing the breast to appear red and swollen.
On the downside, due to its symptoms, it can be mistaken for an infection, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and, in certain cases, may progress rapidly.
According to Dr Khandelwal, they increase in size rapidly and can have mysticism, meaning they can spread to other parts of the body and organs as well.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) suggests that in about 1 in 3 cases, inflammatory breast cancer has already spread or metastasized to distant parts of the body when it is diagnosed. This makes it harder to treat successfully.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Rash
A rash is one of the first and most common symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
"The rash may appear suddenly, even overnight, and look red, pink, purple, or discoloured. The rash is typically large, covering at least one-third of the breast, and can appear on and around the entire breast," the charity describes.
Also Read: Rare, But Men Can Also Develop Breast Cancer: Expert Shares Who Is At Risk And Warning Signs
How To Diagnose The Condition (And Treatment Options)
"The diagnosis of any breast cancer is made by doing a biopsy of the lump. If there is no lump, we take a biopsy of the skin lesion that appears on the breast. For inflammatory breast cancer, we do a scan of the whole body to see if there is any spread to other parts of the body. In such patients, there is no role in doing surgery first," says Dr Khandelwal.
According to him, chemotherapy is the best way to approach patients with inflammatory breast cancer. This helps shrink the tumour and makes sure that the skin recovers first. This is then followed by surgery.
Conclusion
Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer that requires immediate medical attention. Unlike usual breast cancer, it does not necessarily cause a lump but rather causes the skin to inflame, leading to a rash. Experts advise consulting a medical professional or an oncologist if the redness covers one-third of the breast, as it could be indicative of inflammatory breast cancer. It is important to not confuse it with other benign skin conditions and get appropriate and timely treatment.