Rare breast cancer disguised as a rash is delaying diagnosis

The disease doesn't always manifest itself as a lump

While this type of breast cancer is rare, it’s important to recognise the symptoms to look out for (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

While many of us are well aware of the importance of checking our breasts for lumps, swelling and a change in size or shape, breast cancer doesn’t always present itself this way.

This was the case for Jennifer Cordts, a mother-of-two from Texas whose diagnosis started with a rash.

After noticing a patch of redness similar to sunburn on the side of one of her breast, Cordts alerted her doctor who carried out some tests.

“I went and got a mammogram and it came back normal. Everything looked fine,” she explained in an interview with WFAA-TV.

Because the mammogram showed no signs of cancer and her blood results were normal, doctors blamed a poor-fitting bra for the discolouration.

But as time passed by, the red spot on Cordts’ breast did not go away so she decided to Google her symptoms.

Jennifer Cordts hopes her story will help educate women on the symptoms of IBC

“IBC came up. Inflammatory Breast Cancer,” she explained.

“It was the first thing that popped up. And it was late at night. Everybody was asleep. And I was terrified. I just had a bad feeling.”

After 11 months, a biopsy confirmed what the mammogram could not.

Cordts had stage four Inflammatory Breast Cancer and by that time, it had spread to her bones and liver.

At first, doctors blamed a poor-fitting bra for the rash Cordts had developed on her breast

Now receiving treatment, doctors hope to slow down her cancer but cannot cure it completely.

“I really want this to educate. I really want someone to say, 'Oh my gosh, I have redness in my breast. I better push past the mammogram and ask for some more tests,'” Cordts insisted.

While this type of breast cancer is rare, it’s important to recognise the symptoms to look out for.

According to Cancer Research UK, these include areas that are red, swollen, firm and hot to the touch.

Other possible signs include thickening of the skin, pitted skin like orange peel, a lump and discharge from the nipple.