Idc/IBC

Missmom79

i see there are others in the group that have IDC or IBC together. What does that mean? Is IBC a subtype of IDC right? Or could they be wrong and I have IDC and not inflammatory breast cancer like they think I have.

sbelizabeth

Missmom, infiltratiing (or invasive) ductal carcinoma (IDC) is a pathological diagnosis. The cancer cells can be seen under a microscope. If a pathologist were to look at a slide from someone who had breast cancer, he/she could identify it microscopically without looking at the patient. Just by looking at a slide that has breast cancer cells present, a pathologist would not be able to tell if the cancer was IDC or IBC.

Inflammatory breast cancer is IDC that grows in the lymphatic channels of the breast's skin, instead of in a lump. Occasionally IBC presents as a lump as well as in the skin, but not always. IBC is a clinical diagnosis, which means a doctor must have examined the breast and confirmed the presence of classical IBC characteristics (redness, swelling, heat, peau d'orange), AND done a biopsy that's positive for cancer.

I hope this helps. SB

Missmom79

thank you