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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment for inflammatory breast cancer starts with chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation therapy. This combined-treatment approach has improved the outlook for women with inflammatory breast cancer. About half the women diagnosed with the condition survive five or more years, and nearly one-third are alive 20 years after diagnosis.
Chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs)
Treatment of inflammatory breast cancer usually begins with several rounds of chemotherapy to kill or control cancer cells. This pre-surgical treatment, referred to as neoadjuvant therapy, is needed to shrink the cancer and resolve skin problems before the operation, since swelling can prevent the surgical incision from healing properly. The exact number of chemotherapy treatments will depend on how well the cancer responds to the treatments.
Surgery
After chemotherapy, women with inflammatory breast cancer usually have an operation to remove the affected breast (mastectomy). Surgery alone — without chemotherapy — offers a much smaller chance of a cure. Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) isn't recommended for women with inflammatory breast cancer. Most women receive additional doses of chemotherapy after healing from the operation.
Radiation therapy
After surgery and any further chemotherapy, a course of radiation therapy is given to kill any remaining cancer cells in the breast and under your arm. This can help decrease the chance of cancer coming back in the area. Radiation typically involves about 30 treatments over six weeks.
Further treatments
Even after treatment with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, recurrence rates remain high for inflammatory breast cancer. Because of this, your doctor may recommend further treatment (adjuvant therapy) to prevent the cancer from returning. This might include more chemotherapy or hormone therapy if your cancer tests positive for estrogen receptors. Hormone therapy, such as tamoxifen or anastrozole (Arimidex), interferes with the effects of the female hormone estrogen, which can promote cancer cell growth.
If your cancer is HER2-positive, your doctor will recommend a course of trastuzumab (Herceptin). You may also be offered the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial to test new treatments for inflammatory breast cancer.
