What are the treatment options for inflammatory breast cancer?

Inflammatory breast cancer can involve breast skin and lymphatic channels, so care usually combines treatment that works throughout the body with local treatment. Chemotherapy before surgery is intended to treat cancer cells throughout the body and may reduce the tumour burden before an operation. Mastectomy removes the breast tissue and is followed by radiotherapy to treat the chest wall and nearby areas when recommended.

The team also reviews biopsy results, hormone-receptor and HER2 findings, lymph-node assessment, scans, and your general health. These details can alter the medicines used and the order of care. A breast surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and specialist nurses may coordinate the pathway.

Ask for the full sequence before treatment starts, including how response to chemotherapy will be checked and when surgery is expected. Discuss wound healing, drains, arm movement, lymphoedema risk, reconstruction choices, and radiotherapy planning. Tell the team about fever, infections, medicines, allergies, and any plans for pregnancy. Arrange practical help for appointments, meals, and recovery after surgery.

During chemotherapy, contact the oncology team urgently for fever, shaking chills, severe vomiting, dehydration, or new breathing problems. After surgery, seek prompt advice for increasing redness, swelling, wound separation, uncontrolled pain, heavy drainage, or bleeding. Emergency care is needed for severe breathlessness, chest pain, fainting, or uncontrolled bleeding.

What is the planned order of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy? How will treatment response be assessed? What type of mastectomy is recommended? Should reconstruction be delayed? How will arm movement and lymphoedema be supported?