Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer is devastating enough, then to find out you have one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer is even more frightening.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had never heard of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). What is shocking to me now is the fact that I have come in contact with many breast cancer survivors who are not aware of inflammatory breast cancer. This leads me to believe that if some breast cancer survivors don't know about IBC then the general public probably doesn't know much about it either.

IBC is a rare form of breast cancer. Breast cancer is not just one disease, there are many different types. I was diagnosed with one of the more common types called invasive ductal carcinoma. It wasn't so common however that I was diagnosed at the age of 31.

Only about one percent to four percent of newly diagnosed breast cancers will be inflammatory breast cancer. The scariest thing is the fact that IBC is often mistaken for a breast infection which can delay diagnosis of the disease.

IBC usually doesn't present itself as a lump like other forms of breast cancer and it most likely won't show up on a mammogram.

The breast may suddenly become red, swollen or warm. The skin of the breast can also take on the appearance of an orange peel. This is caused by the cancer cells clogging the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast.

There is support out there for those diagnosed with IBC. In 1997 Pete Bevin and Menya Wolfe started a webpage specifically for IBC patients. Sadly, Menya lost her battle with IBC in February of 2001.

I am considered to be in a rare category since I was diagnosed with breast cancer at such a young age. Those diagnosed with IBC find themselves also in a rare category. Finding information and support might prove to be a bit more difficult. It might be easier today to find information on these issues but in 1997 I'm sure that Pete and Menya had a hard time finding a place to go to find support and information. I believe that is why they started what is now today a great comfort to those diagnosed with IBC.

Websites like IBC Support can make us rarities feel at home.