![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511102943im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/spacer.gif) |
|
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
In inflammatory breast
cancer, cancer has spread to the skin of the breast and the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm. The
redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast
may also show the pitted appearance called peau
d’orange (like the skin of an orange). There may not be any lumps in the breast that can be felt. Inflammatory breast cancer may be stage IIIB, stage IIIC, or stage IV.
Enlarge
|
|
|
Inflammatory breast cancer of the left breast showing peau d’orange and inverted nipple. |
|
Glossary Terms
breast (brest)
Glandular organ located on the chest. The breast is made up of connective tissue, fat, and breast tissue that contains the glands that can make milk. Also called mammary gland.
cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for
diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and
can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to
other parts of the body through the blood and lymph
systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma
is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line
or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in
bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other
connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that
starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and
causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced
and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are
cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in
the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
cell (sel)
The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.
inflammatory breast cancer
A type of breast cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen and feels warm. The skin of the breast may also show the pitted appearance called peau d'orange (like the skin of an orange). The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.
lymph vessel (limf ...)
A thin tube that carries lymph (lymphatic fluid) and white blood cells through the lymphatic system. Also called lymphatic vessel.
peau d'orange
A dimpled condition of the skin of the breast, resembling the skin of an orange, sometimes found in inflammatory breast cancer.
stage IIIB breast cancer (... brest KAN-ser)
Stage III breast cancer is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIB, the tumor may be any size and cancer (1) has spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast; and (2) may have spread to axillary lymph nodes that may be attached to each other or to other structures or the cancer may have spread to lymph nodes near the breastbone.
stage IIIC breast cancer (... brest KAN-ser)
Stage III breast cancer is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIC, no tumor is found in the breast or the tumor may be any size and may have spread to the chest wall and/or the skin of the breast. Cancer has spread to lymph nodes above or below the collarbone and may have spread to axillary lymph nodes or to lymph nodes near the breastbone. In operable stage IIIC, the cancer (1) is found in ten or more axillary lymph nodes; or (2) is found in the lymph nodes below the collarbone; or (3) is found in axillary lymph nodes and in lymph nodes near the breastbone. In inoperable stage IIIC, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes above the collarbone.
stage IV breast cancer
Cancer has spread to other organs of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.
|
|
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090511102943im_/http://www.cancer.gov/images/spacer.gif) |