There has been a lot of recent coverage about a "new breast cancer" in the media and recently I have had many concerned patients asking me about it. Inflammatory breast cancer is not a new breast cancer, but fortunately it is very rare.

Inflammatory breast cancer presents with a red, swollen, tender and hot breast with thickened skin, that looks like the surface of an orange, that is indistinguishable from a breast infection (mastitis). Unlike mastitis, this does not respond to antibiotics. This is the first clue that this may not be a mastitis, although some mastitis, if it is not caught early, can be difficult to treat particularly if an underlying abscess has formed.

Unlike the usual advanced breast cancer that presents with a lump, which if untreated, will involve the skin, inflammatory breast cancer does not have a discrete lump that can be seen on mammogram or ultrasound and is indistinguishable from an infected breast on MRI. It is diagnosed by biopsy (needle or excisional) and the distinguishing feature under the microscope is cancer cells within the skin lymphatic vessels.

If someone you know has a "mastitis" that is not responding to antibiotics, particularly if they are not breast-feeding or immune compromised, they should seek an expert medical opinion. Please have them call Breastnet and we will schedule an appointment right away!

Best regards,
Belinda Barclay-White, MD