Inflammatory bc 4 yrs after invasive ductal tumour?

Dx lymph nodes affected. DCIS, comedo and cribriform.  Had WLE,total axillary clearance; 6 x FEC, 25 rads, now on Arimidex.
2 months ago I noticed same breast was swollen, aureole grossly enlarged and lumpy, skin below aureole pink like mild sunburn.
Then, last week, white lumps appeared radiating like spokes from a wheel from nipple to mid chest.Skin is like orange peel and very dimpled in lower half of breast.  Rang bc nurse, she suggested I see my GP, did, and she said something is definitely wrong, but didn't know what. She faxed an urgent referral to the breast surgeon as I got dressed. I was seen in clinic y'day by a bc surgeon (not my original one), radiographer and Consultant Radiologist. I had a mammo, u/s and biopsy. Mammo and u/s clear, will get results of biopsy in 2 weeks (socialised medicine in the UK!) The surgeon and radiologist said it is possibly due to radiotherapy but I am not convinced. I had no burning or peeling with rx and have had no problem in the intervening years. Is it possible/likely that rx can cause these symptoms after 3 yrs?
Could it be inflammatory breast cancer?
I am very concerned obviously and woul appreciate your advice.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear llizziecee:  Skin on the breast is like skin anywhere on the body and is subject to rashes and other abnormalities.  Radiation treatment can cause long-term changes in the texture of the breast, color changes and swelling, however, It is also possible to develop inflammatory breast cancer after initial treatment for breast cancer.  Without evaluation, it is not possible for us to speculate on the what this might be.   However, given your history, a biopsy seems appropriate.  

[lizziecee]

Just reviewed my posting and something has gone wrong - it should have started:
"Dx Jan 2003 with invasive ductal cancer, 2 cm, stage and grade 2, 4/18 lymph nodes cancerous, margins clean, with associated DCIS, both cribriform and comedo. Had WLE, then total axillary removal, 6 x FEC, 25 rads, now on Arimidex."
Sorry - don't know what went wrong.