Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) patients in Canada currently face a significant challenge: the absence of an official “standard of care” specifically tailored for IBC. This gap often leaves patients feeling uninformed and confused, and can result in delayed diagnoses, treatment errors, and surgical missteps with potentially serious consequences. The IBC Network Foundation Canada is committed to bridging this information gap by advocating for clear, specific guidelines and appropriate care for IBC patients.

Currently, IBC in Canada is often treated similarly to locally advanced or invasive breast cancers, with adjustments based on local practices and the availability of treatments. Canada’s complex cancer drug regulatory and funding processes sometimes limit treatment options, especially for patients at specific cancer stages, such as stage IV.

There is a Canadian guideline for the treatment of invasive breast cancer, developed by an expert panel and shared for consensus among physicians across the country. This document emphasizes the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy as a standard for IBC and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, surgeons, and radiation specialists. While these guidelines provide a strong foundation for treating invasive breast cancer, they do not fully address the distinct challenges and specific needs of IBC patients. You can review this guideline here.

Internationally, the MD Anderson Cancer Center is a recognized leader in IBC research and treatment, having developed a detailed algorithm and standard of care widely accepted across the globe. The IBC Network Foundation (US) provides a valuable resource on the current standard of care, which can be explored here. It’s important to note that while MD Anderson’s guidelines serve as a benchmark, the term “standard of care” can vary, and no official national standard exists for IBC in Canada or the US.

Our Commitment: Advocacy and Information

The IBC Network Foundation Canada is not a medical authority and cannot provide direct medical advice. However, we strongly recommend discussing your treatment plan with your healthcare provider and comparing it to the protocols advocated by MD Anderson. Be mindful that adjustments in treatment may occur due to variations in radiation dosages and the availability of certain drugs within Canada. The complexities of Canada’s regulatory environment often result in slower approval processes for new treatments, affecting access, especially for stage IV patients.

Establishing a dedicated charity like ours in Canada is vital to ensuring that individuals with IBC receive care aligned with best practices from leading national and global experts.

Ensuring Proper Care and Treatment for IBC

Dr. Wendy Woodward, a leading expert in IBC at MD Anderson Cancer Center, emphasizes the need for precise and guideline-based approaches in IBC treatment. She advocates against diluting therapies or using less rigorous methods to reduce side effects, highlighting the inappropriateness of skin-sparing mastectomies, sentinel lymph node biopsies, and immediate reconstructions outside of clinical trials for IBC patients. Dr. Woodward’s insights underscore the importance of comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines, reinforcing the critical need for established protocols in Canada.

Supporting Resources

To further support Canadian patients, we provide access to MD Anderson’s Inflammatory Breast Cancer Algorithm and Cancer Care Ontario’s Breast Cancer Pathway Map:

• MD Anderson Inflammatory Breast Cancer Algorithm
• Cancer Care Ontario Breast Cancer Pathway Map

CURRENT STATISTICS ON BREAST CANCER IN CANADA

While specific IBC data is scarce, here are some general statistics about breast cancer in Canada published by the Canadian Cancer Society, which provide context for the importance of addressing IBC:

Our Commitment

The IBC Network Foundation Canada is dedicated to addressing these challenges through:

• Funding life-saving research to improve understanding and treatment of IBC.
• Providing comprehensive education and advocacy to raise awareness among the public and medical community in Canada.
• Offering support and resources to individuals and families affected by IBC, ensuring they receive the care and support they need.

For more detailed Canadian breast cancer statistics, please refer to the Canadian Cancer Society’s latest report.

IBC Statistics and Impact

In Canada, Inflammatory Breast Cancer accounts for approximately 1- 2% of all breast cancer diagnoses. With an estimated 30,500 new breast cancer cases expected in 2024, it is projected that around 300 – 600 Canadian women will be diagnosed with IBC. Despite its rarity, subtypes like IBC are often underfunded and understudied in comparison to more common forms of breast cancer.

Understanding the Barriers to Canadian-Specific IBC Data and Research: In Canada, there is no registry and there are currently no reliable statistics on the numbers of Canadians diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Rare cancers, including IBC, present unique challenges due to their limited understanding and underrepresentation in research efforts:

Impact on Diagnosis and Treatment: The lack of empirical evidence and comprehensive studies on IBC’s prognosis, diagnosis, and characteristics further complicates effective treatment and prognosis. This scarcity also contributes to delayed detection and misdiagnoses, often leading to advanced stages of the disease at diagnosis.

Advocacy and Research Needs: Due to their low incidence rates and fewer survivors, advocacy for improved diagnosis, treatment, and research funding for rare cancers like IBC remains inadequate. Greater awareness, enhanced diagnostic tools, and specialized treatment options are crucial to addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals diagnosed with IBC in Canada.