No-lump Breast Cancer: Silent Killer on the Loose

No-lump breast cancer is invasive and highlysymptoms similar to mastitis that it can be easily
aggressive form of cancer. Good news, though it isconsidered as such, but unlike mastitis that responds
rare.quickly to medication, inflammatory breast cancer is
Inflammatory Breast Cancer does not produce avery rarely accompanied by fever and antibiotic
lump so it can go unnoticed; in fact, it can pass simplytreatment may not help.
as inflammation of the breast, which the doctor mayHow bad can it get?
initially prescribe antibiotics for. However, unlikeThe course of treatment between the common type
ordinary breast infection that also causes swelling ofof breast cancer and the inflammatory type differs.
the breast, Inflammatory Breast Cancer will notFor one, chemotherapy may be started right away
respond favorably to antibiotics. It is a form ofamong patients suffering from inflammatory breast
breast cancer that spreads rapidly; unless detectedcancer, prior to removing the diseased breast. This is
earlier, survival is very slim.to allow the skin of the breast to heal first before
Suzanne G. Beaver of Camarillo, 47, dismissed herthe operation. With inflammatory type of breast
engorged breasts as pre-menstrual syndrome andcancer, the skin surrounding the breast can become
just got busier at work hoping that her conditionred and swollen; this makes it difficult for doctors to
would improve. Three weeks later, she was told sheoperate on the breast.
had inflammatory breast cancer.Mastectomy does not guarantee cancer will not recur
Dr. Tim Moynihan, a cancer specialist at the Mayoamong women suffering from the inflammatory type.
Clinic, cited in one of his published articles the typicalThis is primarily the reason why there is a need to
danger signs of inflammatory breast cancer:put the patient on radiation therapy even if
1. The breast can become engorged and tender.mastectomy has already been performed on the
2. Inflammatory Breast Cancer causes the breast tobreast. Incidence of recurrence can be high due to
appear red, enlarged and feel warmto the touch.the condition of the skin on the breast region.
3. There is an absence of a lump, but the entireAt the first sign of a rash or inflammation on the local
breast would swell.region of the breast, you should take a closer look.
Mastitis is a breast disease that causes inflammationThe problem may not be as simple as you think!
of the breast and is often accompanied by fever. AtSometimes, it is better to worry a bit (without
the onset, inflammatory breast cancer has thebecoming paranoid), than be sorry about it.