No lump? Breast cancer may still just sneak in

Charu Chhibber

Chandigarh, March 8

For a vast majority of women, the first sign of breast cancer is the discovery of a lump. The next most logical step is a mammogram. However, 5 per cent of all cancers detected at late stages comprise women who are suffering from stage III or stage IV inflammatory breast cancers but have had no lump or suspicious discovery in mammogram in the initial stages. 

This was disclosed by Dr Rakesh Kapoor, assistant professor, Department of Radiotherapy, PGI, Chandigarh.How is that even possible, you may ask! Well, the simplest answer is that inflammatory breast cancer or inflammatory carcinoma breast (ICR) doesn’t look or feel like cancer. “It is not your classical picture of cancer,” says renowned city histopathologist Dr Amulyajit Kaur.

She adds that ICR mimics infection and often goes undetected even by doctors. These patients just come in with red, swollen and possibly tender breasts and are found to be at stage III or IV of ICR wherein the cancer has already invaded the skin.

IBC is diagnosed by its clinical presentation, ultrasounds, MRIs and biopsies. The median age for diagnosis of this type of cancer is 5 years lower (at 57 years) than other breast cancers (62 years).

What is ICR?

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer. It is typically a very aggressive disease and is called “inflammatory” because the cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels, resulting in changes in the breast (swelling and redness) that make the breast appear to be inflamed. 

Signs and symptoms of ICR

• Inflammation in the breast tissue
• Swelling and redness that affect a large part (at least one-third) of the breast
• Pitting
• Dimpling
• Bruising
• Orange peel appearance due to the build-up of lymphatic fluid
• Inverted nipple

Other possible symptoms and signs include

• Rapid increase in Size of the breast
• Heaviness
• Burning
• Tenderness
• Occasional mass or lump in the breast
• Enlarged lymph nodes may be present in the underarm or near the collarbone

Treatment 

• Treatment of ICR is multimodal and involves surgery, chemo and radiation therapy. 

Prognosis

• Prognosis, survival and recurrence rates of inflammatory breast cancers are much worse . 

Cancer awareness camp

Chandigarh: On International Women’s Day, the Chandigarh Palliative Care Service today organised a cancer and health awareness camp at Government Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh.  This was a joint effort of the UT Red Cross and the Department of Radiotherapy, PGI, Chandigarh.  — TNS