Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers 

Key Points 

• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but very aggressive type of 

breast cancer (see Question 1). 

• IBC usually grows rapidly and often spreads to other parts of the body; 

symptoms include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast (see 

Questions 2 and 3). 

• Treatment for IBC usually starts with chemotherapy, which is generally 

followed by surgery, radiation, targeted therapy, and/or hormone therapy 

(see Question 4). 

• People with IBC are encouraged to enroll in clinical trials (research 

studies with people) that explore new treatments (see Question 5).

1. What is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)? 

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but very aggressive type of breast cancer in which 

the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. This type of breast 

cancer is called “inflammatory” because the breast often looks swollen and red, or 

“inflamed.” IBC accounts for 1 to 5 percent of all breast cancer cases in the United 

States (1). It tends to be diagnosed in younger women compared to non-IBC breast 

cancer. It occurs more frequently and at a younger age in African Americans than in 

Whites. Like other types of breast cancer, IBC can occur in men, but usually at an older 

age than in women. Some studies have shown an association between family history of 

breast cancer and IBC, but more studies are needed to draw firm conclusions (2). 

2. What are the symptoms of IBC? 

Symptoms of IBC may include redness, swelling, and warmth in the breast, often without 

a distinct lump in the breast. The redness and warmth are caused by cancer cells 

blocking the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, 

reddish purple, or bruised. The skin may also have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin 

of an orange (called peau d'orange), which is caused by a buildup of fluid and edema 

6.2 

8/29/06 

Page 1 
(swelling) in the breast. Other symptoms include heaviness, burning, aching, increase in 

breast size, tenderness, or a nipple that is inverted (facing inward) (3). These symptoms 

usually develop quickly—over a period of weeks or months. Swollen lymph nodes may 

also be present under the arm, above the collarbone, or in both places. However, it is 

important to note that these symptoms may also be signs of other conditions such as 

infection, injury, or other types of cancer (1). 

3. How is IBC diagnosed? 

Diagnosis of IBC is based primarily on the results of a doctor’s clinical examination (1). 

Biopsy, mammogram, and breast ultrasound are used to confirm the diagnosis. IBC is 

classified as either stage IIIB or stage IV breast cancer (2). Stage IIIB breast cancers are 

locally advanced; stage IV breast cancer is cancer that has spread to other organs. IBC 

tends to grow rapidly, and the physical appearance of the breast of patients with IBC is 

different from that of patients with other stage III breast cancers. IBC is an especially 

aggressive, locally advanced breast cancer. 

Cancer staging describes the extent or severity of an individual’s cancer. (More 

information on staging is available in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) fact sheet 

Staging: Questions and Answers at 

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/staging on the Internet.) 

Knowing a cancer’s stage helps the doctor develop a treatment plan and estimate 

prognosis (the likely outcome or course of the disease; the chance of recovery or 

recurrence). 

4. How is IBC treated? 

Treatment consisting of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and 

hormonal therapy is used to treat IBC. Patients may also receive supportive care to help 

manage the side effects of the cancer and its treatment. Chemotherapy (anticancer drugs) 

is generally the first treatment for patients with IBC, and is called neoadjuvant therapy. 

Chemotherapy is systemic treatment, which means that it affects cells throughout the 

body. The purpose of chemotherapy is to control or kill cancer cells, including those that 

may have spread to other parts of the body. 

After chemotherapy, patients with IBC may undergo surgery and radiation therapy to the 

chest wall. Both radiation and surgery are local treatments that affect only cells in the 

tumor and the immediately surrounding area. The purpose of surgery is to remove the 

tumor from the body, while the purpose of radiation therapy is to destroy remaining 

cancer cells. Surgery to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as possible) is 

called a mastectomy. Lymph node dissection (removal of the lymph nodes in the 

underarm area for examination under a microscope) is also done during this surgery. 

After initial systemic and local treatment, patients with IBC may receive additional 

systemic treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence (cancer coming back). Such 

treatments may include additional chemotherapy, hormonal therapy (treatment that 

6.2 

8/29/06 

Page 2 
interferes with the effects of the female hormone estrogen, which can promote the growth 

of breast cancer cells), targeted therapy (such as trastuzumab, also known as 

Herceptin®), or all three. Trastuzumab is administered to patients whose tumors 

overexpress the HER–2 tumor protein. More information about Herceptin and the 

HER–2 protein is available in the NCI fact sheet Herceptin® (Trastuzumab): Questions 

and Answers, which can be found at 

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/herceptin on the Internet. 

Supportive care is treatment given to improve the quality of life of patients who have a 

serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer. It prevents or treats as early as 

possible the symptoms of the disease, side effects caused by treatment of the disease, and 

psychological, social, and spiritual problems related to the disease or its treatment. For 

example, compression garments may be used to treat lymphedema (swelling caused by 

excess fluid buildup) resulting from radiation therapy or the removal of lymph nodes. 

Additionally, meeting with a social worker, counselor, or member of the clergy can be 

helpful to those who want to talk about their feelings or discuss their concerns. A social 

worker can often suggest resources for help with recovery, emotional support, financial 

aid, transportation, or home care. 

5. Are clinical trials (research studies with people) available? Where can people get 

more information about clinical trials?

Yes. The NCI is sponsoring clinical trials that are designed to find new treatments and 

better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for 

general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for 

patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is a treatment 

option for many patients with IBC, and all patients with IBC are encouraged to consider 

treatment in a clinical trial. 

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. 

Information about clinical trials is available from the NCI’s Cancer Information Service 

(CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER and in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer 

Treatment Research Studies, which is available at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on 

the Internet. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains 

their possible benefits and risks. Further information about clinical trials is available at 

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the NCI’s Web site. The Web site offers detailed 

information about specific ongoing studies by linking to PDQ®, the NCI’s 

comprehensive cancer information database. The CIS also provides information from 

PDQ. 

6. What is the prognosis for patients with IBC? 

Prognosis describes the likely course and outcome of a disease—that is, the chance that a 

patient will recover or have a recurrence. IBC is more likely to have metastasized 

(spread to other areas of the body) at the time of diagnosis than non-IBC cases (3). As a 

result, the 5-year survival rate for patients with IBC is between 25 and 50 percent, which 

6.2 

8/29/06 

Page 3 
is significantly lower than the survival rate for patients with non-IBC breast cancer. It is 

important to keep in mind, however, that these statistics are averages based on large 

numbers of patients. Statistics cannot be used to predict what will happen to a particular 

patient because each person’s situation is unique. Patients are encouraged to talk to their 

doctors about their prognosis given their particular situation. 

7. Where can a person find more information about breast cancer and its treatment? 

To learn more about IBC, other types of breast cancer, and breast health in general, 

please refer to the following resources: 

• NCI’s Breast Cancer Home Page (http://www.cancer.gov/breast/) 

• Breast Cancer (PDQ®): Treatment 

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/patient/) 

• Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for All Women 

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-breast-changes) 

• What You Need To Know AboutTM Breast Cancer 

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/breast) 

Selected References 

1. Merajver SD, Sabel MS. Inflammatory breast cancer. In: Harris JR, Lippman ME, 

Morrow M, Osborne CK, editors. Diseases of the Breast. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: 

Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2004. 

2. Anderson W, Schairer C, Chen B, Hance K, Levine P. Epidemiology of inflammatory 

breast cancer (IBC). Breast Disease 2005; 22:9–23. 

3. Chittoor SR, Swain SM. Locally advanced breast cancer: Role of medical oncology. In: 

Bland KI, Copeland EM, editors. The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign 

and Malignant Diseases. Vol. 2. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1998. 

# # # 

Related NCI materials and Web pages: 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 2.1, Cancer Information Sources

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Information/sources) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 5.32, Staging: Questions and Answers

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/staging) 

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.1, Radiation Therapy for Cancer: Questions 

and Answers (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation) 

6.2 

8/29/06 

Page 4 
• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.2, Biological Therapies for Cancer: Questions 

and Answers (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/biological)

• National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 7.45, Herceptin® (Trastuzumab): Questions and 

Answers (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/therapy/herceptin)

• Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer 

(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/chemotherapy-and-you) 

• Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies

(http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/Taking-Part-in-Cancer-Treatment-ResearchStudies) 

For more help, contact: 

NCI’s Cancer Information Service 

Telephone (toll-free): 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237) 

TTY (toll-free): 1–800–332–8615

LiveHelp® online chat: https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/livehelp/welcome.asp

 

This fact sheet was reviewed on 8/29/06 

6.2 

8/29/06 

Page 5