Inflammatory breast cancer: patient advocate view.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive form of breast cancer, often presenting with distant metastasis. While controversy exists regarding the actual incidence of the disease, there is agreement that IBC causes a disproportionate number of breast cancer deaths. Those with typical IBC symptoms face a healthcare system that is often dismissive of their concerns. This is especially true for pregnant, lactating, and younger women. IBC remains poorly understood and diagnosis is frequently delayed due to a lack of knowledge in both the lay and medical communities. The IBC Research Foundation is committed to facilitating research that will improve diagnosis and treatment of IBC, as well as working to raise awareness of the disease in the medical community and general population.