Inflammatory breast disease also referred to as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive, uncommon kind of breast cancer. Unlink other forms of breast cancer, IBC does not produce a noticeable lump in the breast. When symptoms of IBC first appear it may be mistaken for a rash.

Symptoms

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer may include pain and tenderness in one or both breast. A rash that resembles the skin of an orange peel, itching, inverted nipple, and swollen lymph nodes under the arm.
Infection and Inflammation

The American Cancer Society notes that symptoms of IBC may be similar to those of breast infection and breast inflammation and may postpone a true diagnosis of IBC
Risk

The Mayo Clinic notes that IBC is not gender biased--both men and women can develop IBC. Moreover, African-American woman are at a slightly higher risk of developing IBC than white women.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer is typically determined by sending a sample of the breast tissue to the laboratory for microscopic testing.

Treatment

Your physician may recommend treating inflammatory breast cancer with chemotherapy before surgery. He also may recommend radiation therapy after surgery.