It's an uncommon, but aggressive and often lethal form of breast cancer.

Governor Chris Gregoire and IBC advocates made the first week of October inflammatory breast cancer awareness week.

"Thank you so much," said Gregoire moments before signing the proclamation. The governor made it official, but it was the people surrounding her who made it happen.

For years they've been trying to get our attention; trying to warn us about inflammatory breast cancer. "They" are IBC survivors and their families.

"This is my daughter Christine," Patti Bradfield told the Governor. Christine was diagnosed with IBC in her late 30s. It started in her breast and is now in her lungs and bones.

They all tell the same story: they never heard of IBC until they were diagnosed. They don't want that to happen to you and neither does the Governor.

"It can be you, it was me," said Gregoire. Three years ago this month, the Governor underwent breast cancer surgery. Doctors got the cancer.

Governor Gregoire knows that IBC is an uncommon form of breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute says up to 4 percent of all breast cancer is IBC. The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation says it's higher: 6 percent in Caucasians and 10 percent among African Americans.

"I had an uncommon form of breast cancer, when you don't have it it you look at the other person and say it's never going to happen to me," says the Governor.

When Phil Willingham's wife Marilyn died from IBC last December he vowed to make sure every woman knows there is more than one kind of breast cancer -- and you don't have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

IBC often forms in sheets. Symptoms include a swollen breast that can be hot to the touch, stabbing pain, a red blotchy and itchy breast .

Washington's proclamation was Phil's idea. "I told Marilyn's story," says Willingham.

During the January legislative session, less than a month after losing his wife, Phil met with every lawmaker or their staff, begging them to help create awareness.

On Tuesday, Phil made the Legislative rounds again, back where it all began to say thank you.

"It was because of your diligence, I'm really proud of you," a legislative aide tells Willingham.

The governor's office says last year 210,000 breast cancer cases were diagnosed; six percent were IBC.

Because there's often no lump, IBC cases are usually not detected on a mammogram or ultrasound. Doctors say the best bet is a biopsy, but in some cases an MRI will find it.

Easiest thing to remember: any changes to your breast, get it checked out.

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