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Has the inflammatory breast cancer spread?

Page last modified on: October 13, 2008

Question from Cathy: My axillary lymph nodes were removed 11 years ago from first go-around with cancer. I was subsequently diagnosed with IBC in the same breast. There were no lymph nodes to take this time. How do I know for sure that the cancer did not spread?: Answer —Thomas Buchholz, M.D.: When inflammatory breast cancer develops in a breast that has already been treated for breast cancer, the first step would be to perform a series of staging tests to assure that the cancer has not spread. It is correct that once the axillary lymph nodes have been removed, there may not be more removed at the time of surgery. But otherwise, the treatments would be the same with initially finding the extent of the disease, beginning with chemotherapy, subsequently performing a mastectomy, and then considering radiation. Some of the chemotherapy and radiation decisions may also depend on the previous breast cancer treatment.

On Wednesday, October 18, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., Thomas Buchholz, M.D., and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D. answered your questions about inflammatory breast cancer, a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, M.D., F.A.C.P. chairs the department of breast medical oncology and directs the Breast Cancer Research Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where he also serves as professor of medicine and holds the Nellie B. Connally Chair in Breast Cancer.

Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D. is professor of radiation oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Buchholz' research includes the role of radiation treatment in preventing breast cancer recurrence and whether certain genes may be able to predict how breast cancer responds to treatment.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.