IBC: The Most Aggressive Killer of Breast Cancer
Warning: Images are a bit hard to take, but it is the truth form of the most aggressive killer of breast cancer.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is known as the silent killer for a good reason. Since the symptoms usually do not show up on the mammogram, and could appear literally overnight; it is a rare cancer, deadly, and very aggressive.
What inflammatory breast cancer looks like?
Warning! These images are graphic and may be hard to take.
Most people are not aware of this form of breast cancer, because it has no lumps. Breast cancer specialist Dr. Julie Gralow says, “Inflammatory breast cancer almost always presents itself without a lump.”
IBC spreads before patients know of its existence, appears in sheets of cancer, and doctors call it “cancer nests.” The survival rate is only 30 to 50 percent comparing to traditional breast cancer at 98 percent rate.
Image Source
Here is a direct quote on the world’s deadliest form of breast cancer, from the source above, “It strikes young women, long before the recommended baseline mammogram at 40 years old. By the time IBC presents, it’s in an advanced stage – typically 3b or stage 4. There is no stage 5.”
These are the symptoms of IBC:
- Rapid increase in breast size, could be one breast is larger than the other
- Redness or pink skin
- Skin hot to the touch
- Persistent itching or painful
- Thickening of breast tissue or ridges
- Nipple discharge, nipples that appear inverted or flattened
- Rash (small patches or entire breast)
- Swollen lymph nodes under armpit or on neck
Where to get help:
- IBC Hotline: (206) 404-3500
- Toll free number: (866) 447-3467
- Breast and Cervical Health Program: If you live in Washington, and has no insurance, go to this website for help.
Here are the resources:
- KOMO News: You can find many articles on this site about IBC
- Breast Cancer-Network of Strength
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic
- The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation
- Don’t Take No for an Answer, It’s Your Body
Since 1996, many advocates have devoted their life to bring awareness to the world, and IBC has come a long way in establishing the world’s first clinic, governor signed breast cancer proclamation, Congress puts inflammatory breast cancer in national spotlight, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Tell all the women you know about this deadly form of breast cancer since many people are still not aware of it. You can watch the video here, or pass it along to people you care about.
Liked it
RJ Chamberlain | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Great info Icy. Will be very helpful for women that read this. Well done.
Anne Lyken-Garner | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
A very helpful article Icy, with graphic pictures too (I had to click).
At one point you typed IBS when you meant IBC.
This is very scary stuff.
IcyCucky | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Anne for pointing that out, and for your comment!
Thanks RJ for your support!
valli | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Great info and useful too.
neelam pandey | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
very informative article with the revelation of frightening facts…wish if each and every woman could become aware of this.
Alexa Gates | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
very informative!!
Karen N | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Good to know!
booradley | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Thanks, Icy. Scary stuff, but very informative. Thanks.
C A Johnson | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
You did a really good job. Thanks so much for the info, Icy.
Lauren Axelrod | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
Need to know information for women. Well done
Nick Kenney | Aug 21, 2008 | Reply
A very critically important article Icy…women need to read this!
CHAN LEE PENG | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Excellent article, take care, Icy!
nobert soloria bermosa | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
very informative,thanks IC
Judy Sheldon | Aug 22, 2008 | Reply
Great article. Take care, Icy.
patti bradfield | Jan 5, 2009 | Reply
Thank you for helping to make the public aware of the most aggressive breast cancer.
You might want to change your hotline number to our website team.
1-866-944-4223
And check the latest news on IBC. The first GLOBAL conference on IBC was just held at the IBC dedicated clinic in Houston Texas. There is great hope through science on the horizon.
Thank you again,
Patti Bradfield, President
The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation
http://www.eraseibc.com
BC Doan | Jan 5, 2009 | Reply
Patti,
Thank you for the additional information, and comment. I can submit a fix with the publisher, and hope that people will also read your comment to see the number. Thanks again!
Sam | May 5, 2009 | Reply
What is the point of being aware if strikes overnight and it is already last stage? What one can actually do even if she aware? I got round red spot yesterday, so have no clue if it is IBC yet. WHat could I have done different if I was aware? My lifestyle is already perfect-no processed food, daily fresh green drinkls, all organic…. , plenty of sunshine
patti | May 13, 2009 | Reply
Sam,
The point is, if caught at it’s ‘earliest’ stage, which is stage 3B, there is treatment that can hopefully save your life. Even at stage 4 (the last stage as you call it), there is still treatment, and there ARE women who have been living with Stage 4 for many many years.
Medicine has changed, thankfully, and the statistics are not up to date. Not at all.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer doesn’t seem to care if you live a healthy life style (as my daughter did, but lost her battle to this monster after fighting stage 4 for four years), and science still cannot pinpoint genetics with IBC. Vaccines are in human trials now, for advanced and Inflammatory Breast Cancer. There is so much more hope now, than say even 5 years ago.
What you can do “even if she is aware”, is to know your own body. If you see changes that are not normal, seek ’specialists’ who understand IBC, and Rule It Out!
The public needs to be educated but so does the medical community. Education is Power!