Can you get inflammatory breast cancer in your 20s?

IBC tends to occur in younger women (younger than 40 years of age). Black women appear to develop IBC more often than white women. IBC is more common among women who are overweight or obese. IBC tends to be more aggressive—it grows and spreads much more quickly—than more common types of breast cancer.

Should I be worried about breast cancer in my 20s?

Breast cancer can happen in your 20s and 30s. Since routine screening isn’t recommended for this age group, diagnosis can be difficult. That’s why understanding the statistics, as well as your personal risk factors, can help you with early diagnosis and treatment.

Does IBC come on suddenly?

Many of the symptoms of IBC come on suddenly and may even appear to come and go. However, these symptoms will become consistently worse as the disease progresses. If you’ve noticed sudden changes to your breasts and are concerned that it may be IBC, schedule an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible.

How quickly can inflammatory breast cancer spread?

Inflammatory breast cancer progresses rapidly, often in a matter of weeks or months. At diagnosis, inflammatory breast cancer is either stage III or IV disease, depending on whether cancer cells have spread only to nearby lymph nodes or to other tissues as well.

Can a 21 year old get inflammatory breast cancer?

Statistically rare Statistically, it is very rare for a woman to develop breast cancer in her 20s, said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society and a professor at Emory University in Atlanta.

Where does IBC rash start?

Unlike most breast cancers, IBC doesn’t usually cause lumps in breast tissue. Instead, it appears as a rash, creating skin texture on the affected breast similar to an orange peel. IBC causes pain, redness, swelling and dimpling on the affected breast.

How common is breast cancer in your 20’s?

“I have diagnosed women in their 20s with breast cancers.” Overall, about 11% of all breast cancers occur in women younger than 45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An estimated 26,393 women under 45 are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

How rare is cancer in your twenties?

The incidence rates for cancer overall climb steadily as age increases, from fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 people in age groups under age 20, to about 350 per 100,000 people among those aged 45–49, to more than 1,000 per 100,000 people in age groups 60 years and older.

How long can you have IBC without knowing?

For inflammatory breast cancer to be diagnosed, these symptoms must have been present for less than six months.

Can a teenager get IBC?

IBC can occur at any age, although the incidence of IBC is higher in younger women. Though rare, even teenagers have been diagnosed with IBC.

Can IBC show up overnight?

Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms can appear quite suddenly. Inflammatory breast cancer is often confused with an infection of the breast (mastitis).

Is IBC itchy?

Early IBC symptoms may include persistent itching and the appearance of a rash or small irritation similar to an insect bite. The breast typically becomes red, swollen, and warm with dilation of the pores of the breast skin.

Can a 26 year old have breast cancer?

Younger women usually don’t think about getting breast cancer. After all, under 7% of all breast cancer cases happen in women under 40. But it can happen at any age, and it’s important to be aware of your risk factors, regardless of your age.

Can a 25 year old get breast cancer?

Younger women generally do not consider themselves to be at risk for breast cancer. However, breast cancer can strike at any age: 5% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years of age. All women should be aware of their personal risk factors for breast cancer.

What cancers are most common in 20s?

Among people in their 20s, the most common cancers include blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, as well as thyroid cancer and testicular cancer. For patients in their 30s, breast cancer and melanoma are more common. Diagnoses of colon and rectal cancer are increasing among young adults, too.

What does early IBC look like?

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include swelling (edema) and redness (erythema) that affect a third or more of the breast. The skin of the breast may also appear pink, reddish purple, or bruised. In addition, the skin may have ridges or appear pitted, like the skin of an orange (called peau d’orange).

Is breast cancer common in your 20s or 30s?

Breast cancer has been considered rare in your 20s or 30s. Only 5 percent of all cases have been in this age group. Female breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women ages 65 to 74. The median age at diagnosis is 63.

What are the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)?

IBC causes symptoms of breast inflammation like swelling and redness, which is caused by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin causing the breast to look “inflamed.” Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) differs from other types of breast cancer in many ways: IBC doesn’t look like a typical breast cancer.

What is inflammatory breast cancer and how does it spread?

Inflammatory breast cancer occurs when cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in skin covering the breast, causing the characteristic red, swollen appearance of the breast. Inflammatory breast cancer is considered a locally advanced cancer — meaning it has spread from its point of origin to nearby tissue and possibly to nearby lymph nodes.

What causes redness and swelling in breast cancer?

Causes. Mutations within the abnormal cell’s DNA instruct it to grow and divide rapidly. The accumulating abnormal cells infiltrate and clog the lymphatic vessels in the skin of your breast. The blockage in the lymphatic vessels causes red, swollen and dimpled skin — a classic sign of inflammatory breast cancer.