Confuse and I need your help

Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, which was just updated in September, does a good job of explaining each item in your pathology report. Also talk to your oncologist, but I know you don't always see him/her as quickly as you would like answers!

butterflylvr said:

Hi Deb,
I found this bit of info here on the CSN website.

IBC is "Inflammatory breast cancer": This uncommon type of invasive breast cancer accounts for about 1% to 3% of all breast cancers. Usually there is no single lump or tumor. Instead, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) makes the skin of the breast look red and feel warm. It also gives the breast skin a thick, pitted appearance that looks a lot like an orange peel.

So in my opinion if you had an actual lump removed or treated you are IDC (Invasive or infiltrating ductal carcinoma).

Here is my source right here on the CSN website. If you look to the blue box on your left you will see "cancer information" Here is the web page I took this information from:

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-what-is-breast-cancer

By the way Molli is right, Dr. Susan Loves "Breast Book" is a great book for gaining knowledge.

Hugs,
Lorrie

IBC
I'm IBC. In all the info I've read about IBC, I've never seen it called "invasive" - aggressive yes but not 'invasive'. My skin never got red or hot - 'orange peel' yes. Nipple inverted and the overall size of that breast did increase rapidly but no 'lump' - it usually bands or nests so that the entire area is bigger but not a 'lump' and there are no clear margins. Within day a lymph node under arm went from not knowing it was there to huge. Neo-adjunct chemo can get it (IBC) to shrink and form margins so that it can be gotten out.

bradfieldp said:

IBC or IDC?
Your path report, I hope, was taken to a doctor who is familiar with IBC. There are specialists around the country, and I hope by this writing you have had a good answer from an informed doctor.

I also have IBC
and as far as I know, it can be either lobular or ductal. Mine is lobular. Mine presented as red, warm or hot skin with some dimpling and an inverted nipple. Nothing could be seen on the mammogram BUT an MRI revealed a tumor. So IBC can also have a tumor; my onc told me they usually don;t show on mammograms but do show on MRI.

If you have the symptoms of IBC, it's very important that you are working with an oncologist that understands this particular type of cancer. My doctor is Dr. Christafenelli (still can;t spell his name) at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadephia. Women come there from all over the country to see him. He is very willing to work with local oncologists and has been guiding my treatment here (I live in Virginia).

The other big center for IBC is MD Anderson in Texas.

With my IBC treatment I;ve had chemo first, and then surgery, and now heading towards radiation. (With many other breast cancers it's surgery first and then chemo.) An oncologist specializing in IBC is the best one to guide you through this process. There are a few of us on this board with IBC and we would also be happy to share our personal experiences.

Wishing you the best of luck in this journey, it's tough but you can do it!

Laura