Home → Symptoms & Diagnosis → Types of Breast Cancer → Ask-the-Expert Conferences: Types of Breast Cancer → October 2006: Inflammatory Breast Cancer → How does IBC act when metastasized?

How does IBC act when metastasized?

Page last modified on: October 13, 2008

Question from Funny: You didn't answer Kat's question re: does the IBC behave the same way in other parts of the body as it did in the primary site? We are not asking about likelihood of recurrence as much as what happens [and] how quickly in a secondary site?: Answer —Gabriel Hortobagyi, M.D., F.A.C.P.: First of all, I think we need to dispel the idea that inflammatory breast cancer looks like inflammation under the microscope. It does not. In terms of the question specifically, once inflammatory breast cancer spreads to other organs, it tends to behave much like other rapidly growing or aggressive breast cancer. Now because it is an aggressive form of breast cancer, it has a pattern of spread that is somewhat different from other forms of breast cancer. It tends to spread more often to the lungs, the brain, and the liver although certainly not exclusively so. Once it spreads, it is an aggressive tumor and tends to grow more rapidly and spread more rapidly than other forms of breast cancer like the hormone dependent non-inflammatory breast cancer.

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.