Between 1 and 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the U.S. are inflammatory breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is an aggressive form of cancer and is often diagnosed in women who are younger than women diagnosed with other forms of breast cancer.
Identification
In inflammatory breast cancer, lymph vessels in the skin of the breast are blocked by cancer cells. This causes breast tissue to become red, swollen and inflamed. The area may be warm to the touch.
Classification
Inflammatory breast cancer is classified as either stage IIIB or stage IV breast cancer.
Stage IIIB Inflammatory Breast Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, Stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer is described as "locally advanced." This means the cancer cells have spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.
Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer
The National Cancer Institute defines Stage IV as "cancer that has spread to other organs." Inflammatory breast cancer is described as "aggressive" and fast-moving.
Cancer Staging
Physicians find stages useful for describing the development of cancer in patients. However, individual cases vary. Only a treating physician can diagnose the stage and development of a specific patient.
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer, Cancer Institute, National Cancer, National Cancer Institute
