What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) and...?

Question

...what should I be doing to reduce the risk?

Answer 1

There are many different types of cancers (blood, bone, organ, etc) and numerous modalities for treating each. As a simple object lesson...cancer can oftentimes be traced back to oxidative stress to the cellular [lipid] membranes which can adversely impact our DNA. To neutralize or reduce this process, one must increase their level of antioxidants through the ingestion of fruits and vegetables (not synthetic supplements like A, C and E). The data is already very conclusive on this. For your edification, I've posted several files, including one video specifically on IBC, on my Yahoo Briefcase which you can freely download: http://briefcase.yahoo.com/apuzyr
There is other information there, as well, which you may also find useful pertaining to high protein diets, building up the immune system, ideal blood tests, macular degeneration, diabetic neuropathy, free radicals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, synthetic vitamins vs whole food, etc.

Answer 2

Inflammatory breast cancer is a form that breast cancer can take when the tumor is growing close to the skin; it is an aggressive form of breast cancer, and tumor cells break off of the primary and clog the little lymph ducts in the skin, creating swelling and redness that gives it the look of a bad inflammation or infection. Often, infection can co-exist with the cancer, as the tumor cells in the lymph ducts reduce the body's ability to keep invasive bacteria from gaining a foothold.
There is nothing known to reduce the risk of inflammatory breast cancer. There are certain things that seem to be associated with a lower risk of any kind of breast cancer - younger age at first pregnancy, breast feeding all babies and early menopause. Certain families seem to have an increased risk of breast cancer - but there is nothing you can do about your family!
Inflammatory breast cancer often presents as more of a superficial reddening and swelling, rather than a discrete lump - so, along with breast self-examination, mammography as outlined by your age and other risk factors - like family history - and keeping yourself informed of anything new that may be discovered - catching breast cancer early is the best defense!

Answer 3

Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which breast cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This blockage may cause the breast to become red, swollen, and warm. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, purple, or bruised, and it may have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d'orange). These changes often occur quickly over a period of weeks. Another possible sign of this type of breast cancer is swollen lymph nodes under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. Often, a tumor cannot be felt, and may not be seen on a mammogram. The diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer is based on the results of the biopsy and the doctor’s clinical judgment.

Inflammatory breast cancer generally grows rapidly, and the cancer cells often spread to other parts of the body. A woman with inflammatory breast cancer usually has local treatment to remove or destroy the cancer in the breast and systemic treatment to control or kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. Local treatment affects only cells in the tumor and the area close to it; systemic treatment affects cells throughout the body. The local treatment may be surgery and/or radiation therapy to the breast and underarm. The systemic treatment may be chemotherapy (anticancer drugs), hormonal therapy (drugs that interfere with the effects of the female hormone estrogen), or both. Systemic treatment is generally given before surgery and/or radiation therapy. In some cases, local treatment may be followed by additional systemic treatment with hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or both. Some women also may have biological therapy (which stimulates the immune system to fight the cancer......Breast cancer prevention studies are clinical trials (research studies conducted with people) that explore ways of reducing the risk, or chance, of developing breast cancer. Prevention studies usually involve women who have not had breast cancer, but are at high risk of developing the disease. Through such studies, scientists hope to determine what steps are effective in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women of all races and ethnic backgrounds.

Answer 4

If all and sundry reads this and is involved there's a fact sheet on line, internet site goven below. It has a tendency to be clinically determined in young women whilst in comparison with non-IBC breast maximum cancers. It happens greater oftentimes and at a youthful age in African individuals than in Whites. Like different forms of breast maximum cancers, IBC can take place in adult males, yet many times at an older age than in women. some analyze have shown an affiliation between family members background of breast maximum cancers and IBC, yet greater analyze are had to entice company conclusions.

Answer 5

Inflammatory breast cancer is a unique and uncommon type of breast cancer. Inflammatory cancers typically appear swollen, warm, and cause induration of the breast. This occurs because cancer cells may block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. Biopsies often reveal that patients have lymphatic invasion beneath the skin by the cancer.

Most new treatments are developed in clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new drugs or treatment strategies. The development of more effective cancer treatments requires that new and innovative therapies be evaluated with cancer patients. Participation in a clinical trial may offer access to better treatments and advance the existing knowledge about treatment of this cancer. Clinical trials are available for most stages of cancer. Patients who are interested in participating in a clinical trial should discuss the risks and benefits of clinical trials with their physician. To ensure that they are receiving optimal treatment, it is important for patients to stay informed regarding new treatments and the results of clinical trials.

Inflammatory breast cancer generally grows rapidly and the cancer cells often spread to other parts of the body. Treatment for inflammatory breast cancer usually involves multi-modality therapy consisting of local treatment to remove or destroy the cancer in the breast and systemic treatment to kill cancer cells that may have already spread to other parts of the body. Systemic treatment (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy) is generally given before local treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy. The usual sequence of treatment involves chemotherapy followed by surgery, radiation therapy, further chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. With this approach, approximately 30% of women survive 5 years without cancer recurrence. The use of chemotherapy and local-regional radiotherapy has reduced the risk of cancer progressing at or near the site of origin, but the majority of patients experience cancer recurrence at distant sites.

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation has been incorporated into the overall treatment of women with inflammatory breast cancer. Several small clinical trials were published in 1998-99 that reported the results of incorporating high-dose chemotherapy into the overall treatment strategy of patients with inflammatory breast cancer. In general, patients were treated with a sequence of low-dose induction chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and mastectomy, radiation and hormonal treatment with Nolvadex® (tamoxifen). Some doctors have performed mastectomy after induction chemotherapy instead of after high-dose chemotherapy. Approximately 64% of patients are reported to survive without recurrence of their cancer 2.5 to 3 years from treatment. Recently, doctors from France utilizing this treatment regimen have reported 57% cancer-free survival rates 5 years from treatment, with no patients relapsing after 3 years.

Researchers compared the results of intensive chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy approaches in patients with inflammatory breast cancer. Four years from treatment, 76% of patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy were alive without cancer recurrence, compared to 58% of patients treated with non-high-dose chemotherapy. Since inflammatory breast cancer only accounts for 1-4% of all breast cancers, large clinical studies comparing one treatment strategy to another have not been and are unlikely to ever be performed.



Check out the following websites for more information.
http://www.plwc.org
http://health.yahoo.com/topic/breastcancer/overview/article/cancerconsultants/cancerconsultants_cc_br_inflam_1

Also check out my online Journal through breast cancer at
http://www.lovingpinkgal.blogspot.com

Answer 6

go to www.cancer.gov for the answer.