Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer, sometimes abbreviated as IBC, is a rare and aggressive disease in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast, making the affected breast red, swollen, and tender.

IBC, which can occur in both women and men, tends to develop in patients 40 years or younger. It is also more common in patients who are Black or overweight.

Inflammatory breast cancer can be difficult to detect early because unlike typical breast cancer, it usually does not cause a breast lump and may not appear on a mammogram, which means it is likely to have spread to other parts of the body by the time of diagnosis.

However, there is promising research in the field of inflammatory breast cancer detection and treatment. The GW Comprehensive Breast Center is home to a highly skilled team of experts who specialize in treating all forms of breast cancer with care and compassion.