This uncommon type of invasive breast cancer accounts for about 1% to 3% of all breast cancers. The skin of the affected breast is red, feels warm, and has the appearance of an orange peel. Doctors now know that these changes are not caused by inflammation, but by cancer cells invading the skin and blocking lymph vessels.

Inflammatory breast cancer has a higher chance of spreading and a worse prognosis than typical invasive ductal or lobular cancers. Inflammatory breast cancer is always staged as stage IIIB unless it has already spread to other organs at the time of diagnosis which would then make it stage IV.

For further information on treatment guidelines for patients, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network website.