These conditions may look like IBC, but they are noncancerous and will respond to antibiotics and ointments:
- infected milk ducts (mastitis)
- rash on breast skin
- bruise on breast skin
See Your Doctor for These Symptoms:
- sudden growth in breast size
- redness, rash, or bruised look of breast skin (persisting more than 10 days)
- steady itching of breast skin or nipple
- nipple pulling into aureola (retracted)
- thickening of breast tissue or breast skin
- breast skin appears rough like orange peel
- very painful or sore breast
- breast feels hot
- swollen lymph nodes under your arm or above your collarbone
IBC and Mammograms
Inflammatory breast cancer will show up on a mammogram, but not as clearly as a lump or cyst. IBC would appear to a radiologist as a thickening of the skin or diffusely dense breast tissue.Even if you recently had a clear mammogram, if you see the symptoms listed above, please consult your doctor immediately.
References:
IBC Research Foundation. IBC Slide Presentation (PDF document). Last Updated: 10/30/05. www.ibcresearch.org/
National Cancer Institute. Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers. Last Updated: 8/29/2006. Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers

