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Inflammatory Breast Cancer Center - Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Oncologist Doctors for Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Type of Physician: Oncologist

What is a Oncologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; the oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer and other benign and malignant tumors. These subspecialists decide on and administer chemotherapy as well as consult with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatment for cancer.

Specialty: Oncology (Medical)

Common Name: Cancer Doctor

Oncologist Doctors in Birmingham *

Central Alabama Oncology
Susan M Ferguson
7500 Hugh Daniel Dr
STE STE 200
Birmingham, AL 35242
(205) 664-4051

Walker Baptist Cancer Center
Michael M Garcia
3500 Hwy 78 E
Jasper, AL 35501
(205) 387-0333

DCH Cancer Treatment Center
Christopher G Jordan
801 University Blvd E
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
(205) 759-7800

Montgomery Cancer Center
Stephen A White
1023 Medical Center Pkwy
STE 100
Selma, AL 36701
(334) 872-9300

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama in the United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County and includes part of Shelby County. Over the course of the 20th century, the city's economy diversified. Though the manufacturing industry maintains a strong presence in Birmingham, other industries such as banking, insurance, medicine, publishing, and biotechnology have risen in stature. Birmingham has been recognized as one of the top cities for income growth in the United States South with a significant increase in per capita income since 1990. Today, Birmingham ranks as one of the most important business centers in the Southeastern United States and is also one of the largest banking centers in the U.S. In addition, the Birmingham area serves as headquarters to one Fortune 500 company: Regions Financial. Five Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in Birmingham.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham,_Alabama)

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Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Introduction

Inflammatory breast cancer is an accelerated form of breast cancer that is usually not detected by mammogram or ultrasound.

It is a rare cancer, accounting for approximately 1% - 3% of all breast cancers. Inflammatory breast cancer causes the breast to appear swollen and inflamed. The inflammation occurs because the cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast. This causes a blockage in lymph flow leading to the reddened, inflamed appearance to the breast.

What Are the Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Unlike the more common form of breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer does not generally present as a lump. The disease grows as nests or sheets that clog the lymph system under the skin. Often the symptoms are attributed to other diseases and thus the diagnosis may take a long time to occur.

Symptoms include:

  • Pain in the breast. Often inflammatory breast cancer is mistaken as a breast infection and treated with antibiotics. If response to antibiotics doesn't occur after a week, request a breast biopsy or referral to a breast specialist.
  • Skin changes in the breast area. You may find pink or reddened areas often with the texture and thickness of an orange. (peau d'orange)
  • A bruise on the breast that doesn't go away
  • Sudden swelling of the breast
  • Itching of the breast
  • Nipple retraction or discharge
  • Swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm or in the neck.

How is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as another medical condition. It's important to pursue a breast or skin biopsy if treatments for another breast condition like an infection don't work.

How is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treated?

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer that...

Recommended Reading Related to Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Breast Biopsy »

What is a breast biopsy?

A breast biopsy is a procedure in which part or all of a suspicious breast growth is removed and examined, usually for the presence of cancer. The growth sample is suctioned out through a needle or cut out using a surgical procedure. The sample is then examined and evaluated under a microscope by a pathologist to identify non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) tissue.

Words used to refer to the abnormal area or growth before and after diagnosis may include lump, mass, lesion, and tumor.

What is the purpose of a breast biopsy?

The basic aim of a breast biopsy is to determine whether or not a worrisome lump is cancer and, if it is cancer, what type it is. When no cancer is detected, the diagnosis of a benign or harmless lump is reassuring.

What specialties of physicians and practitioners do breast biopsies?

Many physicians and healthcare practitioners can be invol...

Emergency Contact for Birmingham

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Birmingham Hospitals *

Birmingham VA Medical Center
700 S 19th St
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)933-8101

UAB Hospital
619 S 19th St
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205)934-4011

Children's Hospital
1600 7th Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)939-9100

Cooper Green Hospital
1515 6th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)930-3200

Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital
1720 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)325-8100

St Vincent's Hospital
810 St Vincent Dr
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205)939-7000

UAB Highlands Hospital
1201 11th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205)930-7000

Princeton Baptist
701 Princeton Ave SW
Birmingham, AL 35211
(205)783-3000

Trinity Medical Center
800 Montclair Rd
Birmingham, AL 35213
(205)592-1000

HEALTHSOUTH Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital
3800 Ridgeway Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209
(205)868-2000

Brookwood Medical Center
2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209
(205)877-1000

Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
6869 5th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35212
(205)833-9000

St Vincent's East
50 Medical Park East Dr
Birmingham, AL 35235
(205)838-3000

UAB Medical West
995 9th Ave SW
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205)481-7000

Shelby Baptist Medical Center
1000 1st St N
Alabaster, AL 35007
(205)620-8100

Bradford Health Services
1189 Allbritton Rd
Warrior, AL 35180
(205)647-1945

St Vincent's St Clair
2805 Dr John Haynes Dr
Pell City, AL 35125
(205)338-3301

Walker Baptist Medical Center
3400 Hwy 78 E
Jasper, AL 35501
(205)387-4000

St Vincent's Blount
150 Gilbreath Dr
Oneonta, AL 35121
(205)274-3000

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