DMochelle Fashions Magazine
September/October 2017
Like other types of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer can
occur in men, but usually at an older age (median age at diagnosis
of 66.5 years) than in women.
What are the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer?
Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include swelling (edema)
and redness (erythema) that affect a third or more of the breast. The
skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised.
In addition, the skin may have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin
of an orange (called peau d'orange). These symptoms are caused by
the buildup of fluid (lymph) in the skin of the breast. This fluid
buildup occurs because cancer cells have blocked lymph vessels in
the skin, preventing the normal flow of lymph through the tissue.
Sometimes, the breast may contain a solid tumor that can be felt
during a physical exam, but, more often, a tumor cannot be felt.
Other symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include a rapid
increase in breast size; sensations of heaviness, burning, or
tenderness in the breast; or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward).
Swollen lymph nodes may also be present under the arm, near the
collarbone, or in both places.
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