The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation: "TIPS: Remember, IBC can be seen. Look in a mirror for changes such as overnight swelling or bruising, change in skin texture such as a rash, dimpling or nipple flattening. Know your own breasts. Knowledge can save your life.
The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation Board of Directors
The battle of education in the public arena as well as the medical community is not over, and will not be until not one more woman is 'surprised' by a diagnosis of Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
Marilyn 'Mare' Kirschenbaum
Vice-President
Mare began the IBC Journey in 1997, when her daughter Karen was diagnosed with this insidious disease. Fortunately she continues to do remarkably well!
Her first attempt at spreading the word was when sh wrote to NBC5 in Chicago and their response was the first television segment on IBC on the ten o'clock news."
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Hello ...
I have created this blog with the hopes of educating people about Inflammatory Breast Cancer a/k/a IBC.
IBC is in a class of its own compared to no other form of breast cancer
WHY?
*IBC IS the most aggressive type of breast cancer; symptoms can appear overnight .. yes, overnight! Early diagnosis classifies a patient being in Stage IIIb out of four stages of breast cancer. Knowing the symptoms WILL save lives.
*IBC lies in sheets and nests (think of horizontal lines) in the dermal (skin) lymphatic system.
This disease rarely presents itself with a 'lump.'
*IBC mimics mastitis which is a benign breast infection; If you are diagnosed with mastitis you have a fever - with IBC there is NO fever. If antibiotics do not help dissipate the inflammation after five days, please ask your doctor to rule out IBC.
* One or more of the following symptoms can be indicative of IBC; however, they can also be benign (non-cancerous) symptoms.
*Increase in size of one breast (can be a cup size larger)
Redness, rash or blotchiness on the breast, what appears as an insect bite or a bruise that doesn't help dissipate with creams/salves.
Lymph node swelling under the arm or above the collarbone.
Flattening or discharge of the nipple
Inflammatory Breast Cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast and as a result, the breast looks inflamed; hence the name Inflammatory.
When diagnosed with IBC the first protocol (treatment) is chemo .. NOT surgery!
The Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program is the first in the nation, which opened it's doors in October of 2006 in Houston Texas, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. A very dedicated group of 16 clinical and pre-clinical investigators spanning six divisions, including cancer medicine, diagnostic imaging, pathology/laboratory medicine, prevention, radiation oncology and surgery are working to find better treatments/ protocols and the badly needed research into the mysteries of this deadly form of breast cancer.
I have created this blog with the hopes of educating people about Inflammatory Breast Cancer a/k/a IBC.
IBC is in a class of its own compared to no other form of breast cancer
WHY?
*IBC IS the most aggressive type of breast cancer; symptoms can appear overnight .. yes, overnight! Early diagnosis classifies a patient being in Stage IIIb out of four stages of breast cancer. Knowing the symptoms WILL save lives.
*IBC lies in sheets and nests (think of horizontal lines) in the dermal (skin) lymphatic system.
This disease rarely presents itself with a 'lump.'
*IBC mimics mastitis which is a benign breast infection; If you are diagnosed with mastitis you have a fever - with IBC there is NO fever. If antibiotics do not help dissipate the inflammation after five days, please ask your doctor to rule out IBC.
* One or more of the following symptoms can be indicative of IBC; however, they can also be benign (non-cancerous) symptoms.
*Increase in size of one breast (can be a cup size larger)
Redness, rash or blotchiness on the breast, what appears as an insect bite or a bruise that doesn't help dissipate with creams/salves.
Lymph node swelling under the arm or above the collarbone.
Flattening or discharge of the nipple
Inflammatory Breast Cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast and as a result, the breast looks inflamed; hence the name Inflammatory.
When diagnosed with IBC the first protocol (treatment) is chemo .. NOT surgery!
THE FIRST STEP TO EARLY DETECTION IS RAISING AWARENESS. CHECKING YOUR BREASTS IS IMPORTANT BUT LOOKING FOR CHANGES IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT!
For more information please visit the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation at www.eraseibc.com
On a personal note, my daughter Karen was diagnosed at age 36 with IBC and she continues to do remarkably well. She will be a 12 year IBC survivor in July! There IS hope and there are many, many, long time survivors but the first step is KNOWING THE SYMPTOMS.
Sites to visit:
The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Foundation
Join us in our crusade to tell everyone you come in contact with, there is a breast cancer we are not told about. Help us spread the word so that no woman says, "I didn't know there was another type of breast cancer" and "what is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?" You could save someone's life.
The Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program is the first in the nation, which opened it's doors in October of 2006 in Houston Texas, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. A very dedicated group of 16 clinical and pre-clinical investigators spanning six divisions, including cancer medicine, diagnostic imaging, pathology/laboratory medicine, prevention, radiation oncology and surgery are working to find better treatments/ protocols and the badly needed research into the mysteries of this deadly form of breast cancer.
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