concerned between IBC and IDC

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Polyana
Polyana Member Posts: 200
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Is there a difference between IDC and IBC? My concern is that my path report says I have IDC, but there is a dermal lymphatic involvment, so does that mean I have IBC?

My medical oncologist did not say it exactly but he told me we need to focu on the treatment Bcoz this is an aggressive type of cancer?!!

my surgical oncologist told me NO. Coz the symptoms I presented clinically are not IBC, and my history does not relate to IBC? So what does it mean then

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  • tpcjkk
    tpcjkk Member Posts: 67
    edited February 2011

    I went through a similar situation.  My tumor was classified by the pathologist as IDC, but with dermal lymphatic involvement.  My onc, rad onc, and a second opinion onc questioned whether I had IBC because of that finding.  My breast surgeon was the only one of my docs that did a physical exam before surgery, and he told me that IBC is a clinical diagnosis, and I did not have IBC.  My case came to a head because there was concern about whether I was a good candidate for lumpectomy vs. mastectomy; my case was presented before tumor board, and I was told that I could have either.  I chose a lumpectomy.  I hope this helps.

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  • hope2
    hope2 Member Posts: 73
    edited February 2011

    hi ladies,

    this is a question that i have asked many times but am still unsure, i had the opposite happen to me, at presentation it looked like ibc but i had two lumps one very large, My breast had an abcess the size of an orange, i had the orange peel dimpling and discoluration, itching and pain, they put me on a ton of antibiotics and it did lessen the infection but did not clear it, my breast was red and hard but when the pathology report came back the skin was clear so i had IDC not IBC, i think this was decided in the end because of the clear skin and two palpable tumours.

    the surgeon was shocked that the skin was clear, mine was modified radical macestomy anyway and chemo and rads because of tn grade 3, so did not make any diff to me and nearly two years out now. half afraid to say that in case i am jinksing it. sorry cannot be of help really but heres hoping that it is idc as more is know about it. take care and good luck. 

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  • Ling29
    Ling29 Member Posts: 56
    edited February 2011

    Hi,

     I also have the same question and at the moment, I am treating myself as an IBCer. I have rapidly red and swollen breast but no orange peel dimpling. I had 3 biopsies done because it was hard for them to get enough tumour (even though my breast was all large and hard). My skin biopsy is clean, and my other path reports found IDC and possible lymphatic involvement. Possible because they only found it in one of the biopsy but it was questioned when I seeked a second opinion, so none of them are really sure.  When I asked my oncologist whether I have IBC, she said based on the clinical and possible lympathic invasion, she will still classify me as IBC and I am now still doing my chemo.

    I guess at this stage, I do consider myself as having IBC, and my doctor is also treating as IBC, and I am happy about it. It is better to be treated aggressively first. I may have a clearer picture after my surgery, or like hope2, wondering about the question all the time.  

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