Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)

[youngheart]

Hi! I have some changes in the breast I had a lumpectomy in on Feb. 13, 2007. I have swelling and a couple of other symptoms that suggest IBC.  My doctor has just put me on an antiobiotic.  Will the antiobiotic help with the swelling/firm feeling I am experiencing if this is IBC or will the antiobiotic be totally ineffective for this cancer? Thanks!

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  It is possible to have an infection (mastitis) occurring at the same time as a breast tumor, but it does not necessarily mean that it is inflammatory breast cancer.  IBC is a rare type of breast cancer  which does not usually present as a lump but a diffuse sheet of malignant cells and is usually not identified by mammography.  The fact that you already had a lumpectomy makes me assume that a discrete mass was found.  This makes the diagnosis of IBC unlikely.  Antibiotics would be ineffective for IBC since the swelling is not due to infection.  However, with your case, I doubt that this is IBC, and your doctor is probably correct in giving you antibiotics.

[youngheart]

Thank you so much.  I see my radiologist this A.M. and am guardedly optimistic.  Now I'm wondering if this could possibly be post-radiation fibrosis or mastitis.  And, another thought/question just crowded in....If this is lymphedema, would an antiobiotic help it or should I expect no change with an antibiotic for LE?  This can be so overwhelming at times that I'm glad we only have to take it a day at a time (and sometimes less than that)  Thanks again for your reply!