Breast Cancer is one of the major causes of death among women. Usually the breast cancers can be detected by self exams or mammograms. Women are advised to have regular mammograms after the age of 40, so as to make the detection of cancer as earlier as possible. However a new type of breast cancer has been detected called Inflammatory Breast Cancer that is harder to diagnose and mostly effects the younger generation. Inflammatory breast cancer cannot be diagnosed by self examination or mammograms as the disease does not cause solid tumors to be felt or X- rayed. Inflammatory breast cancer affects the black population more than the white girls.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer mostly effects the lymphatic system of the breast. And as the lymph vessels are blocked the breast takes the shape as if it is inflamed and hence the name of the disease. The breast appears swollen and discolored. Heat or slight pain is felt in the breast area. Inflammatory breast cancer is diagnosed by the combination of biopsy, an ultrasound examination and mammograms. Stage is determined by the spread of the disease. Stage III involves fairly large cancerous tissue whereas stage IV involves the spread of the disease to other organs.
First line of treatment consists of chemotherapy and as chemotherapy shrinks the cancer, surgery is performed to excise the cancerous tissue and adjacent area. Often the surgery is accompanied by doses of radiation therapy to minimize the chances of relapse. Hormone therapy is employed if the cancer is found to be estrogen sensitive.
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