Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer may include some/or all of the following symptoms:
Breast swelling, in which one breast is larger than the other
Inverted, flattened or discoloured nipple
Breast feels warm to the touch and may look infected
Redness, discolouration or rash
Shooting pain and/or itching
Thickening of the skin
Lump may be present, although lumps are less common in inflammatory breast cancer
Dimpling of the breast similar to orange peel (peau d’orange)
Swelling in underarm or only on one side of neck
Inflammatory breast cancer can be difficult to recognise and diagnose because it is rare and may look different from other breast cancers. Keeping a note of any symptoms and, where possible, taking photos can help you track any changes and support discussions with your healthcare team.
The Komen IBC Scoring Tool was developed to help medical professionals evaluate symptoms and signs to reach a prompt and accurate diagnosis. If you have concerns about how your symptoms are being interpreted, or if your diagnosis or treatment has been delayed, you can share this tool with your medical team to help guide the conversation.