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Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Definition

When abnormal cells grow out of control, they are called cancers. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, but aggressive type of breast cancer that carries a poorer rate of survival than other types of breast cancer. The cancerous cells move rapidly throughout the breast and clog the lymph vessels in the skin, causing the breast to look swollen, red, itchy or inflamed. It's often mistaken for a rash or infection and many women are initially treated with antibiotics or steroids.

Getting Diagnosed / Treatment

Patients with IBC are treated in the Inflammatory Breast Care Clinic. Read about:

• the IBC Clinic
• View the list of physicians; this link goes to the UMHS website.

Make an Appointment

Keep reading about Inflammatory Breast Cancer, or review our Inflammatory Breast Cancer Questions and Answerspage.

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Read Another type of breast cancer: Inflammatory breast cancer more rare, more lethal than common form

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center