IBC Research Foundation

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Committed To Finding The Causes!

Focusing on Research and Awareness

Questions About the Symptoms and Diagnosis of IBC

  1. What is the cause of sudden edema as a symptom of IBC? Can this cause be differentiated from other (non IBC) breast edema?
  2. What is the cause of the pre-diagnosis itching symptom often reported by IBC patients?
  3. Is there a correlation with the presence of Hyaluronon and symptoms of IBC, notably edema? “Hyaluronan has been reported to be involved in various events during morphogenesis and differentiation. Its concentrations increase in the areas, where cell migration begins, suggesting that hyaluronan opens some paths through which the cells can migrate. Cancer cells are often enriched with hyaluronan, and intense intracelluar staining for hyaluronan is a poor prognostic indicator for cancer therapy. source “A significant property of hyaluronan is its capacity to bind huge amounts of water (1000-fold of its own weight).” source
  4. Can Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) detect IBC at time of diagnosis when the tumor is found to be growing in nests or sheets? PET scanning has been used post-diagnosis to detect metastatic disease, and to demonstrate some disease that was not previously known. With what sensitivity can it be used to detect and identify IBC at time of diagnosis?
  5. What characteristics differentiate “early” and “late” diagnosis of IBC and does early diagnosis change the outcome?