Early Breast Cancer Rash: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)?

Inflammatory breast cancer is a form of breast cancer that is always mistaken as any rash, minor infection, or allergic reaction. It is a rare, aggressive, fast growing cancer of the breast that accounts for only one % to five % of all breast cancers.

Cause of IBC

IBC occurs when the cancer cells in the breast grow and divide uncontrollably and block the lymph vessels. Lymph vessels are a part of the lymphatic system and appear as thin tubes that allow the lymphatic fluid to drain out of the breast. This blockage causes lymphatic fluid to pile up, leading to breast tissue inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain).

What Are the Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)?

Symptoms appear quickly within three to six weeks and include:

• Retracted or inverted nipple.

• Pain, swelling, and itching in one of the breasts.

• Tenderness, heaviness, reddening, and firmness in one of the breasts.

• Burning sensation, warmness, enlargement of one of the breasts.

• Dimpling, thickening, or pitting of the breast skin that resembles an orange peel.

• Red, pink, and purple areas of discoloration are seen, which is spread over one-third of the breast.

• Lymph nodes appear to be swollen near the collarbone or under the arms.

Why Is IBC Often Mistaken for Other Skin Conditions?

IBC does not cause any lumps in the breast (formation of lumps are more common in breast cancers); instead IBC appears as inflammation (pain, itching, redness) in the affected breast. This appearance can be confused as normal or less serious skin infections or allergies instead of IBC.

Who Is More Likely to Get IBC?

Any person can develop IBC, but certain factors increase the risk of getting IBC, which are:

• Age: Younger people with age less than 40 are at risk of developing IBC.

• Gender: IBC mainly attacks females.

• Obesity: People with more weight are prone to this disease rather than the people with normal BMI (body mass index).

How Can IBC Be Diagnosed?

IBC can mimic other types of skin infections or breast infections, therefore the doctor must prescribe antibiotics to rule out the infections. If the signs and symptoms do not subside even after using medication then biopsy and other diagnostic tests are done to confirm IBC. Additional tests are also conducted to know the spread of cancer beyond the breast.

• Physical Examination: IBC does not show any lump formation, but careful examination of breast skin can rule out other conditions like mastitis and paget's disease.

• Breast Mammogram: X-rays are used to see inside the breast, for breast calcifications, skin thickenings, or presence of any lumps.

• Breast Ultrasounds: Ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive procedure, this technique uses sound waves to record photos of the internal parts of the breast. Care should be taken while using ultrasound because IBC and other breast infections look alike in imaging.

• Biopsy: A reliable source to confirm IBC. During biopsy, a small breast tissue sample is removed and it is sent to the lab for testing, and the pathologist confirms the diagnosis.

How Can IBC Be Treated?

Depending upon the nature of cancer cells in biopsy report treatment can be advised to the patient.

• Chemotherapy: It uses drugs to kill and destroy cancer cells. It can be given intravenously or orally in the form of medication. This therapy makes the cancer shrink in size so that cancer can be removed easily during surgery. It is also advised after surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells.

• Radiation Therapy: It uses X-rays to kill the cancer cells. Machines are aimed at cancer areas from which high energy rays kill the cancer cells. It can be used after surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells.

• Surgery: The entire or only affected part of the breast is removed during surgery. Sometimes surrounding tissues and nearby lymph nodes are also removed to prevent further spread of cancer (metastases).

• Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy are also indicated depending on the spread of the cancer.

What Are the Other Conditions That Cause Rashes on the Breast?

Skin of the breast is very sensitive and prone to many harmless, non cancerous rashes. Some of the common ones are:

1.Mastitis: It is an inflammation of breast tissue and is of three types. The symptoms are similar to that of IBC: swelling, tenderness, itching, and reddening can be seen in affected breasts.

• Lactational Mastitis: It is most common, and occurs during breastfeeding.

• Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: It is rare and occurs within 5 years of giving birth.

• Periductal Mastitis: A benign condition affecting females in reproductive ages (15 to 45). People with mastitis must rule out IBC.

2. Infections: Skin at the breast region is very sensitive and is more prone to infections. Intertrigo is a skin infection that mainly occurs in skin folds, and is caused by bacteria. This should be carefully differentiated with IBC.

3. Allergic Reactions: When allergy or irritation occurs to the skin, it results in swelling, dermatitis, or hives. Common allergens include cosmetics, insect bites, certain fabrics, laundry agents, sprays, and lotions.

4. Breast Abscess: It is a bacterial infection, in which the skin around the nipples appears cracked and broken. Draining the abscess and antibiotic therapy are advised.

5. Mammary Duct Ectasia: Milk glands become wider and lose elasticity, which occurs at menopause. It affects the nipple and areola.

6. Shingles: Also known as herpes zoster, it appears several years after chickenpox. Shingles are formed on the breast or around the breast.

7. Chronic Skin Conditions: Skin disorders like psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis may look similar to IBC.

8. Paget’s Disease of the Breast: It is a type of breast cancer affecting the nipple and areola (skin around the nipple). Paget’s disease indicates the presence of a tumor inside the breast. Treatment depends on the location and size of the tumor.

What Are the Home Remedies for Managing Breast Rash?

Along with other medical treatments, following can be done to avoid pain and discomfort caused by the rash.

• Wear loose clothes.

• Avoid sun exposure to affected areas.

• Avoid scratching, deodorants, perfumes or any other cosmetic products.

• Use a mild soap-free wash, pat dry after bathing and avoid rubbing on the affected skin.

Conclusion

IBC is a fat growing disease and requires immediate treatment. Differential diagnosis is very important in IBC, because most of the signs and symptoms resemble that of normal skin or breast infections. Women who are diagnosed with IBC have very less survival rates when compared with other types of breast cancers.