The Truth:
Inflammatory breast cancer is
real and this is one of those times when an eRumor might save lives by
bringing attention to it.
This began circulating in June, 2006
and most of the forwarded emails included a link to a story about
inflammatory breast cancer broadcast on KOMO-TV in Seattle, Washington
in May, 2006.
Inflammatory breast cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic, is rare but
spreads rapidly so early detection is important. It is not
characterized by the lumps that are associated with other kinds of
breast cancer and which for many women are the only signs of cancer they
look for. The Mayo Clinic says it is believed that inflammatory
breast cancer develops when cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the
breast. The result is discoloration, swelling and warmth. The skin of
the breast may also become ridged or pitted like the peeling of an
orange. It is not detectable in a mammogram and is diagnosed through a
biopsy.
Links about inflammatory breast cancer:
The
Mayo Clinic
The
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The
National Cancer InstituteUpdated 6/23/06
