Today is a special day to our family, it is my sister Sherry's birthday! We each celebrate Sherry's life in our own individual ways - but on this day, we will all remember with love, how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. One of the ways I celebrate Sherry's life is by blogging... this blog was inspired by and is dedicated to Sherry. Check out "My Inspiration."
We lost Sherry to Inflammatory Breast Cancer on December 4, 2009. Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a truly awful disease and in honor and celebration of Sherry's life, I hope to shine a small light and create awareness of this disease.
IBC is not a new type of breast cancer, but it is very important to distinguish IBC from other types of breast cancer because there are major differences in its symptoms, prognosis, and treatment. IBC probably accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States but the disease is often misdiagnosed, since there is no consensus on the real incidence of IBC.
Symptoms
Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer at an early stage can possibly save your life. IBC causes symptoms that are often different from those of more common breast cancers. It rarely causes a breast lump, and it may not show up on a mammogram. Because it doesn't look like a typical breast cancer, it can be harder to diagnose. IBC can present in a number of ways, and each patient's symptoms are unique, but a common feature is that those symptoms typically progress very rapidly, often within a matter of weeks. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms may include all or a combination of the following signs and symptoms:
- Breast swelling, which appears suddenly with one breast much larger than the other
- Itching
- Pink, red, or dark colored area, sometimes with a dimpling of the breast skin that looks like an orange peel (peau d'orange)
- Ridges and thickened areas of the skin
- Breast that feels warm to the touch
- Flattened or retracted nipple
- Breast pain
You do not need to have all of these symptoms to be concerned about inflammatory breast cancer. Since inflammatory breast cancer symptoms are very similar to those of an infection (mastitis), your doctor may prescribe a round of antibiotics. If the symptoms have not improved or have grown worse, breast imaging (mammogram, ultrasound, breast MRI) and a biopsy are strongly recommended. These are simple screening procedures for cancer. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the most sensitive imaging test for IBC. It can find any breast mass that looks like it could be invasive cancer. More importantly, MRI allows the skin changes that are typical of IBC to be measured precisely. Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer at an early stage can possibly save your life.
Love Versus Cancer™ aims to honor and promote the strength and hope that love brings to the challenge of confronting cancer. Love unites us all in our efforts to end cancer. Medicine provides the all-important clinical tools to treat cancer – but love bolsters the heart and spirit to help us rise above the disease. Join Love Versus Cancer and connect with those who also recognize the power of love.
"Love Versus Cancer" does not promise that love will defeat cancer -- not every "fight" will be won. Love bolsters the spirit and help us rise above the disease. Wherever cancer may take us, love abides and offers strength and hope to confront the disease.
Send an E-Card to someone you love.
Donate to Love Versus Cancer. (Fox Chase Cancer Center Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic)
Source: www.fccc.edu
No comments:
Post a Comment