Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer that quickly spreads to other parts of the body. It causes redness and swelling in the breast and if not detected in the early stages it may become terminal. All forms of cancer therapy from hormonal to radiation and surgery to targeted therapy are used in treating this rare form of cancer.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of IBC is done on the basis of a physical examination that includes a biopsy, mammogram and ultrasound of the breast. Once that is done the IBC has to be classified according to its stage. The stages of IBC starting from Stage IIA to Stage IV determine the spread of cancer and future prognosis.
Survival Rate
The survival rate of patients with IBC is almost 25% less than other breast cancer patients. This is due to the fact that by the time diagnosis takes place the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body.
5 Year Prognosis
The five year rate of survival for IBC patients is about 25-50%. This means 25-50% of patients survive five years after diagnosis of the cancer. These statistics may vary from patient to patient mainly due to the effectiveness of the treatment program and the stage at which the diagnosis is made. With early detection the prognosis of the patients will increase.
Seven Year Rate
The survival rate of patients of all stages of cancer decreases after seven years. These statistics do not include the patients who may die from IBC and/or other causes related or unrelated to the disease.
Last Stage-Stage IV and Outcome
Stage IV of the disease means that the cancer has spread to most organs of the body and even after aggressive treatment the survival rate for patients drops to about 20%. This does not mean that patients cannot see a reversal of the disease. The data is merely a representation of averages.
First Stage-Stage IIA
The earlier the diagnosis of IBC the better the prognosis. This is why patients diagnosed in Stage IIA of the disease have a survival rate of 92%, which may be less than other forms of breast cancer but is still better than the later stages of IBC.
Averages
Any statistic of survival is an average of the data gathered and cannot always be used as an accurate line of prognosis for patients. Accounting for about 1-3% of all breast cancers in the United States, IBC may not have a good prognosis but with regular check-ups it can be detected early and give a better chance of survival.
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