Pictures of inflammatory breast cancer
There are images below are graphic medical photos of inflammatory breast cancer.
We are sharing these photos for educational purposes.
We hear a great deal about prevention and early detection in cancer. While cancer prevention may never be 100 percent effective, many things (such as quitting smoking and eating healthy foods) can greatly reduce a person’s risk for developing cancer, the causes for IBC are unknown and there is not a form of detection prior to a stage three.
This lack of early detection can cause great emotional stress, so it is important that if you are diagnosed with IBC to understand your late stage diagnosis was not your fault. There is not a way to know you have IBC until the outward physical signs are presented.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) symptoms may include:
Breast swelling, which one breast is suddenly larger than the other
Breast that feels warm to touch and may look infected
Itching or shooting pain
A dimpling of the breast skin that looks like an orange peel (peau d’orange)
Thickening of the skin
Flattened or discolored nipple
Swelling in underarm or only on one side of neck
Might feel lump, however lumps are not common in IBC.
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Signs and Symptoms
Male Presentation
Progression
Non Standard of Care
Swelling
The classic swelling associated with inflammatory breast cancer. Extreme swelling can pop up almost overnight with inflammatory breast cancer.
redness and Swelling
Redness and swelling are classic symptoms associated with inflammatory breast cancer.
irritation and bumps
Splothy skin, irritation, and bumps can appear at the onset of inflammatory breast cancer.
Orange Peel
Dimpling of the skin is a common characteristic of IBC. It’s called Peau d’orange because it resembles orange peel.
Please note:
This photo was taken on 12/4/20. The date of the official IBC diagnosis from the general surgeon. The blisters on the breast were caused by the adhesive in the bandages used after the excisional biopsy, the week prior.
“I first noticed the orange peel or peau d orange texture on 11/8/20. I called women’s health the following day to make an appointment. They scheduled my appointment for December 4th. I called them again the next day and said, ” I think I have inflammatory breast cancer “, they said they would call me back. They called back a few hours later and said, “we’ll see you this Friday”. I was sent to radiology after that Friday appointment for mammo & ultrasound. Radiologist said he couldn’t see anything and said I needed to have a biopsy. I called my dermatologist and got in with him the following Monday. His results came back as ‘edema from an unknown source ‘. My doctor at women’s health, not satisfied with that answer scheduled breast MRI and excisional biopsy. MRI showed something because I just was getting home when the radiologist called me and asked if I could come back so he could do a lymph node biopsy.”
Bruising
Bruising on the breast can be a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer.
Male Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer presentation in males.
Progression
Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms and standard of care treatment.
Redness, Swelling, and Peau d’orange (orange peel)
After weeks into presentation, pores enlarge, shiny skin, and difference in nipple.
Notice the ridge line where the bra has cut into the breast due to swelling.
Ridge line where the bra has cut into the breast due to swelling.
Rash is spreading. Small incision and left size from biopsy incision. Nipple is retracting and flattening. Bruising may be from biopsy.
Modified radical mastectomy (non skin sparing). Above the healthy breast is the port, and bottom left is the patch covering the drain.
The small bulge under the arm is called dog ear.
Note the side affected with IBC is on the side with the sleeve. The patient opted to have a 2nd mastectomy of the non cancerous breast, after completing all treatment.
Non Standard of care
Care received by this patient is non standard of care.
Standard IBC presentation with Swelling, and Peau d’orange (orange peel)
Standard IBC presentation with rash.
Skin sparing mastectomy.
Healing begins.
Return of IBC symptoms.
Had to have a second mastectomy.