How do i know i have invasive ductal carcinoma versus inflammatory breast cancer?

Biopsy: First, the physical examination of the rare form of inflammatory breast cancer will show diffuse red swelling of the skin of much of the breast. Biopsy of the breast skin would show cancer cells in the skin lymphatics. Invasive ductal breast cancer is contained in the breast tissues and not spreading into the breast skin.

Breast cancer: The tissue from surgery or biopsy is sent to a pathologist to be looked at under a microscope. The pathologist looks at the slide and determines the type of breast cancer.

Your doc: Inflammatory breast cancer is what is called a "clinical diagnosis". This means that there is not one exact test that confirms ibc. A doctor has to take all the information together-- exam, pathology, skin biopsy, symptoms-- and make the diagnosis. What i can say is that inflammatory breast cancer is not quiet, so you and your doctor will know if that's what you have! it's painful!

Dermal lymphatic inv: Inflammatory breast cancer is a very aggressive and rare firm of breast cancer that is defined by invasion of the dermal lymphatic channels in ones skin. This presents as a red spreading rash on the skin and may or may not be associated with an actual mass in the breast. Skin biopsy is used to diagnose it. Aggressive tx includes chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiation. Reconstruction possible.