Israeli Mother Diagnosed With Aggressive Inflammatory Breast Cancer After Third Childbirth
Adi Schneider Dori, a 39-year-old mother of three from Kibbutz Revadim, was diagnosed with aggressive inflammatory breast cancer shortly after giving birth to her youngest child in April 2025. During her pregnancy, she noticed unusual swelling and pain in her left breast, symptoms initially mistaken for inflammation or infection. Despite reassurances that breast cancer does not cause pain, her condition worsened, leading to a biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and fast-spreading form of the disease.
Following the diagnosis, Schneider Dori underwent an intensive treatment regimen starting in August 2025, which included 12 weekly chemotherapy sessions and additional treatments every two weeks. The support from her kibbutz community proved crucial during this challenging period, helping her care for her newborn and two older children. After chemotherapy reduced the tumor size, she underwent surgery to remove the affected breast and lymph nodes, combined with a preventive microsurgical procedure to reduce the risk of lymphedema, a common complication causing swelling due to lymphatic blockage.
The surgical team, led by senior breast surgeon Dr. Orly Friedman-Elder and plastic surgeon Dr. Sharon Karkouf-Sela, explained the innovative approach of preserving lymphatic vessels to maintain fluid drainage and improve post-operative mobility. Schneider Dori is currently recovering with limited arm movement but has nearly regained normal function following physical therapy and radiation treatments. She looks forward to a breast reconstruction surgery, hoping to restore physical balance and return to an active life and her job as an information management officer at Ashdod refineries.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Israeli women, with approximately 5,500 new cases diagnosed annually and around 1,100 deaths each year. Schneider Dori’s story highlights the importance of early detection and specialized treatment for inflammatory breast cancer, which can be mistaken for benign conditions during pregnancy and postpartum periods.
