stage 3 breast cancer

[blondie62]

my cousins wife was just told she has stage 3 breast cancer, they found 4 lumps each approx 4-5 cm in mass. I was told that they will start 16 weeks of chemo and then do a double mast. She was told that this is a very aggressive form of cancer and has grown fast. She had breast cancer about 3 years ago, but it did not spread, they say this is not the same type as she previously had. After her chemo they are to schedule a double mastectomy. Should the surgurey not be done first if it is growing that quickly? Are there any other options? Could you recommend anything or anyone she could see,  they live near Los Angeles. Please answer back I would like as much info as possible, they are looking to whom ever can offer help.
thank  you

[wmac]

I dont know if this is imflamatory bc. Inflamatory breast cancer is when the breast are inflamed sore red etc. Didnt you say they found four lumps? Dont think this is inflamatory bc. Im not a doctor but from what I read that doesnt sound like it.

[lizziecee]

It sounds as if your cousin's wife has inflammatory breast cancer, which is very rare and accounts for only some 1-4% of breast cancer cases. It is indeed very aggressive. The usual treatment is chemotherapy, to halt the cancer spreading to other organs, and then mastectomy.  Her previous bc could have been invasive ductal, invasive lobular, or even DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ, where the cancer has not spread out of the ducts into other areas of the breast.)

I live in England so don't know of any breast cancer centres in the LA area. You could try calling the American Cancer Society for advice. There are some good forums on the internet specifically for inflammatory breast cancer - breastcancer.org, or ibc at ibc support.org (you need to use the ampersand key in place of at) where other ladies with ibc will be helpful with your queries. I don't have it myself, just the common invasive ductal.

The prognosis for ibc is not good and it is important she starts treatment as soon as possible.
If you google inflammatory breast cancer you will find a wealth of information which will help you to understand this insidious disease.
Take care,
Liz.