Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer may include some/or all of the following symptoms:

A simple, cartoon-style illustration of breast in a minimalist, pink outline.

Breast swelling, in which one breast is larger than the other

Diagram of a the breast with a magnified view showing an inverted nipple.

Inverted, flattened or discoloured nipple

Illustration of human breasts with lines and arrows pointing outward from the nipple area.

Breast feels warm to the touch and may look infected

Simple illustration of the breast, showing an area of redness or irritation on the left side of breast showing skin changes

Redness, discolouration or rash

Cartoon illustration of breast with pink lightning bolts indicating pain in one breast.

Shooting pain and/or itching

A cartoon illustration of breast with one showing skin being thickened on one side, and darker skin tone.

Thickening of the skin

A cartoon illustration of breasts showing a lump

Lump may be present, although lumps are less common in inflammatory breast cancer

Illustration of breasts sowing the right breast looking like the skin of an orange.

Dimpling of the breast similar to orange peel (peau d’orange)

Cartoon illustration of breasts with one showing a lump in the armpit

Swelling in underarm or only on one side of neck

Inflammatory breast cancer can be difficult to recognise and diagnose because it is rare and may look different from other breast cancers. Keeping a note of any symptoms and, where possible, taking photos can help you track any changes and support discussions with your healthcare team.

The Komen IBC Scoring Tool was developed to help medical professionals evaluate symptoms and signs to reach a prompt and accurate diagnosis. If you have concerns about how your symptoms are being interpreted, or if your diagnosis or treatment has been delayed, you can share this tool with your medical team to help guide the conversation.