Inflammatory Breast Cancer

I'd never heard of this type of breast cancer before. Just got an email forwarded to me by my dad, & I think it's VITAL that women know about this. You can watch a video of the Seattle newcast at this link, but it's also in print there if you can't watch the video.

http://www.komotv.com/ibc/

 

Thanks AK....It's always a good thing to watch out for each other!

 

Thanks AK. I didn't know about it either.

You know - it's a good reminder. I haven't had the girls examined for years. I've never had a mammogram either. What's a good age to start this sort of thing?

 

According to what my docs have told me, it's good to have a "baseline" mammogram around age 35 or so to have something to compare later ones to. I don't remember the exact recommendations on how often, but you should have them more often as you get into your 40s.

I overdue for one, but it ain't happening till I get some medical insurance.

 

My sister was diagnosed with IBC in 1999...since then, she's had a double mastectomy, a hysterectomy and numerous metastises. It's spread to her bones (femur), lungs, liver, brain, neck, and the sac around her heart. She's endured weekly chemo for almost 7 years, four rounds of radiation, and is barely able to speak, walk, or hear. She is now experiencing transient ischemic attacks, or mini-strokes. And she's one of the lucky ones...

It's nothing to play with.

 

DAMN, dude--I'm so sorry that she's had to endure this. It is some scary shit, & almost no one has heard of it! In the news video, the reporter tried contacting a number of cancer help-lines, & no one could tell her anything. They didn't have the info, either.

 

I'm so sorry to hear this. That sounds hellishly aggressive. It's a measure of her spirit that she's endured so much, for so long. I will keep her and your family in my prayers .

AK - I guess I'm now at the age to get checked...good, timely reminder!

 

Thanks...she was 34 when diagnosed and is now 41. She has two kids, ages 11 and 8...they're the reason she keeps fighting.

You can read about her struggle here (start at the bottom and work your way up): http://www3.caringbridge.org/nc/stopibc/history.htm

 

That newscast absolutely floored me. We hear so much about breast cancer & early detection--but you never hear about this type that is SO aggressive, that can strike so young, that checking for lumps & mammograms don't find, & that can so easily be mistaken for a minor bug-bite. It's terrifying. But knowledge is power.

 

A former coworkers wife died of from inflammatory breast cancer this spring. It started as what looked like a red irritation under her breast that she thought was from her bra, however when it was still there in the mornings she knew it should be checked out. She went through chemo and radiation. It ended up going to her brain and she was gone within 6 months of diagnosis.