Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Diagnosis

Patients at Mayo Clinic meet with their health care team to find the most appropriate approach for their care. Before recommending a treatment plan, physicians review the patient's preferences, laboratory tests, X-rays, medical history, family history and any prior treatments for cancer. Another step in diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer is a biopsy, the removal of a small piece of skin and breast tissue. A pathologist looks at the cells of this tissue under a microscope to determine whether cancer is present.

Biopsy results are usually available within 48 hours. If the diagnosis is cancer, treatment planning can begin almost immediately and will involve evaluation by a surgeon, plastic surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist, as well as support staff. Patients also have immediate access to the latest clinical trials for breast cancer treatment and prevention.