P.O. Box 16
Milford, Michigan 48381
1-866-944-4223
Milford, Michigan 48381
1-866-944-4223
Education is the MOST powerful tool in the fight against misdiagnosis and improper treatment of Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
Our Foundation's mission is to educate the public and the medical community when needed, that this form of breast cancer is different and is rarely picked up by mammograms.
Towards this mission, the fourth
Wednesday of the month our
radio show, called
IBC FACT & FALLACIES,
will dispel the myths and help educate our listeners.
What...
Common IBC Symptoms:
Things You need to know:
Mammograms usually don't pick up IBC
because normally there is no lump that women are told to look for.
Why - Reason #1
Doctors misdiagnose Inflammatory Breast Cancer as mastitis.
Why - Reason #2
We need to push this message across the country.
Who..
Our group of dedicated advocates are, and a brief message about
each one of us.
Tips:
On the top of most of the included pages of this website, you will
find TIPS. These are TIPS that doctors and patients have given
to people dealing with first symptoms of Inflammatory Breast
Cancer, plus TIPS from patients who have gone through
chemotherapy.
The information contained on the 'eraseibc.com' web site is presented for the purpose of educating people on Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Nothing contained on this web site should be construed nor is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider. Should you have any health care related questions, please call or see your physician or other qualified health care provider promptly.
IBC Proclamations bringing awareness throughout the United States, instigated by advocates in these states. More will be added as they are proclaimed.
States joining our cause, with a proclamation for IBC Education during the month of October. We need 10 or more for this to become Nationally recognized each October.
Washington State was the first. Other States are following. In 2006 Governor Christine Gregoire, WA, signed the first week in October to IBC Awareness Week. You can take this proclamation to your own State Legislator's. Awareness is power.
Phil Willingham was the driving force behind the Washington State Proclamation, first in 2006 with the first week, then again in 2007 with the entire month devoted to IBC Awareness. Bravo Phil. Governor Gregoire again, in 2008 and in 2009 proclaimed the month of October.
Thank you Christine, you are helping pave the way for better education.
The latest Proclamation signed April 8, 2009 with added language from the University of Washington and the work of the Tumor Vaccine Group, Dr. Nora Disis director and Dr. Lupe Salizar.
What women don't know about cancer can kill them.
Especially when it comes to the most deadly form of breast cancer: Inflammatory Breast Cancer. In a series of reports, KOMO 4 brought international attention to IBC.
Now, the governor is helping spread the word.
"You were the inspiration, Phil! " Governor Chris Gregoire said Tuesday as she signs a proclamation declaring October "Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in our state.
The governor, a breast cancer survivor, is betting that most of us don't know there's more than one kind of breast cancer. She was happy to honor Phil Willingham's plea to warn others.
"My objective is to have every woman and doctor in America know about this disease," says Willingham. The Carnation man is starting with the state of Washington. He's been on a one-man crusade to warn as many women as will listen.
He said it's a warning his wife never got before she was diagnosed with IBC.
"Thank you KOMO and thank you Phil for your tremendous leadership," Gregoire said moments after signing the proclamation. "This is a form of breast cancer hard to detect and diagnosis. The only way to get ourselves to address this is if we get the message out."
Phil's wife, Marilyn was also misdiagnosed. "She smiled and took a breath and went to sleep," says Willingham.
He was with Marilyn when she died, just two weeks before Christmas.
We uncovered countless cases across the country of women who told KOMO 4 their doctors misdiagnosed IBC for a breast infection or a bug bite.
Typical IBC symptoms can include rapid increase in breast size, redness, skin hot to the touch and itchy, and thickened breast tissue. The National Cancer Institute says IBC accounts for one to five percent of all breast cancer in the U.S.
And IBC usually attacks without a detectable lump and a mammogram rarely finds it.
"It's something more than a proclamation, it's a cause," said Willingham, who always has a stash of brochures about IBC handy.
Tina Turck never heard of IBC until she got it. Last August she warned other women in a KOMO 4 Special report. She died almost one year to the day after that broadcast.
She was only 37 when she was diagnosed -- three years younger than the recommended age to start mammograms.
"If I heard of it prior, I probably would have been more suspect that something was wrong," said Tina Turck in an interview last year.
With IBC Awareness Month in Washington, now you know.
Cancer experts tell us the best way to detect Inflammatory Breast Cancer is with a biopsy.
