Inflammatory Breast Cancer

SEATTLE - For years, Cheryle Pierce celebrated a victory every morning she got out of bed. Her doctors also celebrated, knowing she had cheated death another day. Pierce had a rare form of breast cancer that used to be considered a virtual death sentence.

The symptoms appear literally overnight, it doesn't usually show up in mammograms, and many doctors don't recognize it and commonly misdiagnose it. It is called inflammatory breast cancer.

Three years ago, Pierce underwent a routine mammogram. It showed both her breasts clear of any problems. Just one month later, her left breast began to swell, it became red and itchy. Her doctor initially diagnosed it as mastitis, a common infection of the breast. But when her symptoms didn't respond to antibiotics, she returned for a second mammogram and refused to leave until the technicians found something. The diagnosis was I.B.C. and Pierce says the physician's assistant told her that her prognosis wasn't good. "I was in tears. I was just...a basket case. Uncontrollable, just no, no, no this can't be!"

Inflammatory breast cancer is rare. Only one to two percent of all breast cancers is inflammatory, but it is deadly. Breast cancer specialist Dr. Julie Gralow says it is a very aggressive form of cancer. She says in the days before good chemotherapy became available, I.B.C., "…was almost universally fatal."

Now about 40 percent of women with the disease will reach the five-year survival mark. However time is critical. Dr. Gralow says if the cancer spreads beyond the breast and lymph nodes, "…there's a much worse prognosis for the patient."

After chemotheraphy, surgery and radiation, Pierce's cancer seemed to be in abeyance. But last year it spread to the bones in her spine, pelvis and shoulders. Pierce says some of her doctors gave up on her. "They thought, oh you'll never pull out of this. Little did they know!"

Pierce became wheelchair-bound when the cancer hit her bones. But her spirits never flagged and she fought off the cancer again. She recovered well enough to walk, take an aerobics class and even work out with weights. She credited much of her survival instinct to the support she's received from family and friends, as well as from an internet support group for I.B.C. sufferers. Women share information on symptoms and treatment, they also share hope.

Pierce always knew the odds were against her and finally, they caught up to her. After three years fighting I.B.C. and spreading the word about the deadly disease, she died.

Her family hopes her story will inspire others to continue their fight and doctors to look specifically for the signs of inflammatory breast cancer.

I.B.C. Support Group Web Site
National Cancer Inst. I.B.C. Web Site
American Cancer Society I.B.C. Web Site
Breast Cancer Network