What Is a Breast Cancer Rash?

Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH
·7 min read
<p>ljubaphoto / Getty Images</p>

ljubaphoto / Getty Images

Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD

A rash on your breast is a potential symptom of inflammatory breast cancer—a rare type of cancer that makes up about 2% to 4% of all breast cancer cases in the United States. This aggressive form of breast cancer often causes a red rash that makes the affected breast appear swollen.

Inflammatory breast cancer usually develops in the cells that line the milk ducts in the breast. As the cancer cells grow and multiply, they often form a tumor that blocks the lymph vessels in the skin. As a result, your lymph fluid can build up and cause inflammation and redness on the skin. 

What Does The Rash Look Like?

A breast cancer rash caused by inflammatory breast cancer usually covers at least one-third of the affected breast. In most cases, cancer cells are present in only one breast. As cancer cells begin to block the lymph vessels in the skin, lymph fluid builds up in the breast. Lymph fluid is a clear liquid that contains white blood cells and runs throughout the body to help the body fight infection. Too much build-up of lymph fluid in the breast can cause:

  • Redness

  • Swelling

  • Ridges or pitting, which can look like the skin of an orange

  • Heaviness

How Fast The Rash Spreads

Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive type of cancer, and the rash can spread quickly. The appearance of the breast usually changes within three to six months, but the rash can spread over a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, because this type of cancer spreads rapidly, most people don't know about their diagnosis until they are in later stages of the disease.

Other Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer usually present quickly. In addition to the red, swollen rash, symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer may include:

It's worth noting that inflammatory breast cancer is just one type of breast cancer. Other forms of breast can cause different symptoms, including:

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

There are several known risk factors for breast cancer, which include:

Age also plays a factor in your risk of developing any type of breast cancer. Older age is a common risk factor for most breast cancers. It's worth noting, however, that people with inflammatory breast cancer usually develop their condition at a younger age than those with other types of breast cancer.

Other Causes of a Breast Rash

Inflammatory breast cancer can be easily mistaken for other conditions or infections that affect the appearance of the breast. In fact, there are several other possible causes of a rash on the skin of the breast.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin most commonly caused by group A Streptococcus (group A strep). This infection occurs when bacteria enter the deeper layers of the skin from an injury or surgical procedure. People with cellulitis often experience a red, swollen rash that is painful to the touch. The skin may look pitted or blistered as well. Cellulitis is not contagious and is curable with antibiotics. 

Mastitis

Mastitis refers to inflammation of the breast and is a common complication of breastfeeding. This condition occurs when a milk duct becomes blocked and causes infection. Symptoms of mastitis include breast pain, swelling, and redness. The breast may also feel warm and tender to the touch. 

Intertrigo

Intertrigo is an inflammatory skin condition that occurs when your skin becomes irritated. When the skin experiences friction from rubbing together or against tight clothing, it can begin to break down. As a result, you might experience symptoms such as a red, scaly rash and itching that develop on the skin under the breasts. This can occur due to sweat and trapped moisture in skin folds. 

Allergic Reaction

When your skin becomes exposed to an irritant or allergen, you may experience an allergic reaction. As a result of the reaction, it's common to experience hives—or, red, raised lumps on the skin that itch. A reaction can occur when you come in contact with a substance that you are allergic to, such as pollen, certain kinds of foods, and some medications. Hives often appear across the chest and may affect the breasts. 

Shingles

Shingles is a condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which can lead to an intense rash that feels painful and itchy. A shingles rash often blisters as well. In addition to a rash, shingles may also cause a fever, headache, and an upset stomach. 

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

See your healthcare provider any time you notice a change in the size or appearance of your breast. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive cancer that spreads quickly. As such, early diagnosis is an important part of treatment.

Diagnosis

Inflammatory breast cancer is diagnosed differently than other types of breast cancer. You will likely not feel a lump in the breast and a mammogram may not always detect the condition. Instead, your healthcare provider will start the diagnostic process by performing a physical exam and a clinical breast exam.

Specifically, your provider will look for a breast cancer rash that covers at least one-third of one of your breasts and appears red or swollen. Typically, this rash develops quickly, so it's important to tell your provider how long ago you started noticing symptoms of the rash.

If your healthcare provider is concerned that your rash is cancerous, they will order a biopsy to test your breast for cancer. Your provider may also recommend an ultrasound of the breast and surrounding lymph nodes. If your results come back positive and you receive a diagnosis for inflammatory breast cancer, the next step will be to undergo a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to determine if cancer cells have spread to other areas of your body.

Treatment

A breast cancer rash will improve once you start receiving treatment for your underlying breast cancer. Most people who have inflammatory breast cancer receive their diagnosis in stage III or IV, which warrants several different types of cancer treatment, including:

  • Chemotherapy: Your healthcare team will likely recommend chemotherapy treatment before surgery to shrink a breast cancer tumor. Treatment usually lasts four to six months.

  • Surgery: Most people with inflammatory breast cancer require a modified radical mastectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the entire affected breast and some or all of the surrounding lymph nodes.

  • Radiation therapy: After surgery, you may need radiation therapy to the chest wall under the breast. This is done to ensure that all cancer cells are destroyed. Most surgeons recommend waiting for breast reconstruction after you complete radiation therapy.

  • Targeted therapy: This type of cancer treatment uses drugs to target cancer cells and spare healthy cells. Inflammatory breast cancer cells usually produce high amounts of a protein called HER2 protein. Drugs like Herceptin (trastuzumab) can target these cells and destroy cancer with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

  • Hormone therapy: In some cases, your healthcare team may recommend hormone therapy if the cancer cells contain hormone receptors. Drugs like Nolvadex (tamoxifen) can prevent the hormone estrogen from binding to receptors on cancer cells and keep them from growing. It's important to note though that most cases of inflammatory breast cancer are not hormone-dependent.

A Quick Review

A breast cancer rash is a rash on your breast skin that often occurs due to inflammatory breast cancer—a rare and aggressive form of cancer. This condition can cause the skin on the affected breast to appear red, swollen, and pitted (similar to an orange). Unfortunately, this cancer spreads quickly and you may not receive a diagnosis until you're in a later stage of the cancer. That's why seeing your healthcare provider as soon as you notice breast changes is essential.

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