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Dr. Jay Harness
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VIDEO: Dr. Harness - Inflammatory Breast Cancer, What Causes This?

Dr. Harness discusses the causes of inflammatory breast cancer.

Dr. Harness, M.D.:
The cause of inflammatory breast cancer is the same as the cause of other breast cancers. What we have to remember here is the delay in diagnosis. The cancer has been there for quite a while and because of that delay or denial of dealing with a lump in the breast or having even been told that you have an abnormal mammogram and do nothing about it, it’s the progression of the disease.

So it’s again, what we call locally advanced. What was a contained invasive cancer has now really progressed. And it often very significantly involves the lymph nodes draining the breast, which become blocked with cancer, which causes a swelling of the breast. So that’s the major factor is the prolonged delay in the diagnosis.

About Dr. Harness, M.D.:
Dr. Jay Harness, M.D., is the Director at St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center. Practicing medicine for 35 years, Dr. Harness specializes in general surgery and medical oncology. Graduating medical school from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he conducting his internship and residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Recognized nationally and internationally for his work in breast and endocrine surgery, Dr. Harness is the immediate past-President of The American Society of Breast Surgeons and is President-elect of Breast Surgery International. Dr. Harness can assist patients in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Visit Dr. Harness at St. Joseph Hospital

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