Breastcancer >> FAQ's About Breast Cancer >> What Are Some Of The Types Of Breast Cancer Create Thickening Of The Skin?
What Are Some Of The Types Of Breast Cancer Create Thickening Of The Skin?
There are a number of breast cancers that could create thickening of the skin. One is lymphatic cancer of the breast, in which cancer cells enter the lymph vessels. Lymphedema can be caused by a cancerous or benign tumor pressing on the lymph vessels, which can cause thickening of the skin. The other type of cancer is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Breast thickening is more likely to be caused by inflammatory breast cancer.
Inflammatory breast cancer is a less common, but more aggressive type of breast cancer that is often described to manifest as a thickening of the skin on the breast. This kind of cancer is staged at Sage IIIB, Stage IIIC or Stage IV. An area on the breast could look something similar to a callus. The breast may increase in size, and there may be erythema of the skin on the breast. Erythema is a discoloration that could be dark, red or pink. With inflammatory breast cancer the skin may have a texture that feels similar to the skin on an orange.
Inflammatory breast cancer can cause pain. The pain may feel like a constant ache, or the pain may be sudden sharp pains that come and go. A person who has IBC may have a discharge coming from the nipple. The discharge could be clear, yellow, white, or bloody. The breast may also feel very warm to touch. The nipple may itch, and other areas of the breast may itch also.
Inflammatory breast cancer does not grow in the same way other types of breast cancer. Other forms of breast cancer, such as ductal carcinoma and lobule carcinoma are localized in the ducts or in the lobes of the breast. These types of cancers can be easily seen as tumors in the breast, but inflammatory breast cancer doesn’t grow that way. IBC grows in sheets or in nests within the breast. Inflammatory breast cancer looks totally different on a mammogram than the more common types of cancer.
To make a diagnosis of inflammatory the doctor will examine your breasts, you should also have a mammogram and ultrasound. The doctor will likely insert a needle into the breast to aspirate some cancer cells for a biopsy. You won’t feel a lump, like you might with other cancers. The diagnosis of IBC will also be accompanied by the stage. When the doctor knows whether the inflammatory breast cancer is Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV, the doctor will know better how to treat you. Your doctor will also know by the stage what your long term prognosis will be.
Women should do breast self-exams (BSE) every month, preferably at the same time of the month. Part of the BSE is standing in front of the mirror and looking at your breasts. Women should know what their breasts look and feel like, so they can notice if there are changes in them. It is important to look at the skin of the breasts and look for symmetry, and skin color. It is also important that women notice the size of their breasts, so they can tell if their breasts are swelled or not. It is common for women’s breasts to be slightly different, but if you notice a significant change in your breasts you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
If you notice that the skin on your breasts feels scaly, thick, or if the breast feels like there is a callus on it, you need to see your doctor right away. Thickened areas on the breast are not always caused by cancerous lesions in the breast. Sometimes benign tumors grow in the breast that can mimic some of the symptoms of breast cancer.