Breast cancer is one of the common cancers that affects women’s health worldwide. Hence, detecting signs of breast cancer early on can improve your treatment outcomes. With regular screenings, such as mammograms, playing a significant role, being aware of a few physical symptoms in your body is essential. However, subtle changes can be the first indicators, which may be wrong, but identifying them early can make a difference in your diagnosis and recovery.
Every woman must take time to determine what her body is telling her. Breast cancer symptoms can arise in diverse forms, from atypical lumps to changes in the skin or nipple. Knowing the warning signs empowers women to take charge of their health and encourages them to seek timely medical consultation when something feels unusual. Awareness is the first step towards prevention, and learning the effective symptoms of breast cancer in women can save lives.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer forms in the breast tissue cells, most commonly found in either ducts (which carry milk) or lobules (which create milk). It begins when abnormal cells start to multiply uncontrollably, forming a lump or mass that can invade surrounding tissue, and in advanced cancers, spread throughout the body. Most are affected by breast cancer, although men can develop breast cancer as well (which is unlikely).
This disease is one of the most common cancers worldwide, but when identifying signs of breast cancer in females early on and undergoing adequate treatment, survival rates are higher. While methods of breast screening, such as mammograms in conjunction with self-examination and symptom awareness, can provide early evidence of breast cancer, there are a number of treatment options for this disease, including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, surgery, radiation and targeted drugs, depending on the type and stage of cancer.
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How to Know Breast Cancer: 11 Signs to Keep in Check
Breast cancer develops silently, but early detection of signs of breast cancer can make a life-saving difference. Being aware of common warning signs will help you take timely actions and seek medical advice if required. Let us have a closer look at 11 common breast cancer symptoms that every woman must be aware of.
1. Lump in Your Breast
A breast lump is one of the common signs of breast cancer! An ideal way to detect this symptom is to notice an irregular, solid, and painless mass in the breast area, which can be distinguished from surrounding tissues. This mass or lump may not always be cancerous; it can be a granular cyst. But in a cancerous lump, the skin directly on top can become redder and more tender than the adjacent skin.
If you notice any new lump or mass in the breast area, it is always prudent to contact your healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation and any necessary treatment.
2. Having Lump Armpit or Collarbone
If you observe swelling in the collarbone or armpit, then you may be at risk of breast cancer; however, it can occur due to various reasons. But, lumping in this area typically occurs when cancer cells spread to the lymph nodes in the armpits or collarbone.
Moreover, cancerous lymph nodes appear immovable and rigid, and sometimes become tender on palpation. Though sometimes the swelling or lump in the lymph nodes can occur before you notice a lump in the breast.
3. Swelling in Breast
While self-assessment, If you see swelling in or around the breast, it can be due to Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). You may experience itching, redness, tenderness, or warmer breasts; at this time, it is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional immediately.
4. Sudden Change in Breast Size & Shape
Sometimes, women may feel heaviness, swelling, redness or burning in their breasts. Sometimes, one breast may appear visibly larger than the other. When you observe sudden changes like these in one or both breasts, then it might be one of the significant symptoms of breast cancer in women, and you must contact a healthcare expert quickly.
5. Irritation in your Skin
Dryness in your breast skin can be irritating for some time, but if you experience constant itching or irritation on your breast skin, then it might be an indicator of breast cancer.
6. Dimpling on Your Breast Skin
If you notice that your breast skin is becoming thicker than usual and has puckering or dimples, then consult a healthcare professional immediately. While in some cases it can occur due to infection amid breastfeeding, it is also another symptom of breast cancer.
Moreover, with breast cancer, you may experience scaling, dryness, flaking, irritation and even thickening of the breast and nipple skin. In addition to these signs, skin may have wounds with black scabs, which appear as orange peel, a significant breast cancer symptom.
7. Experiencing Pain in Breast/Nipple Area
Breast and nipple pain is common during the menstrual cycle, and some non-cancerous conditions can cause sudden pain. While most breast cancers are painless, some can cause pain. However, if you feel persistent pain in the breast, you may have a cancerous condition, which demands immediate attention from a healthcare provider.
8. Discharge From Nipple
If you aren’t lactating and you experience sudden discharge from the nipple, it can be because of injury, infection, cancerous or even non-cancerous conditions. But if you notice bloody discharge from the nipple, you must contact a healthcare professional immediately to determine the reasons for breast cancer and possible treatment.
9. Having Nipple Retraction
Ageing or non-cancerous breast conditions like inflammation, post-surgical changes or mammary duct ectasia can cause nipple retraction. Nipple inversion or retraction typically occurs in Paget’s disease of the breast, which is a rare cancerous condition occurring in the nipple and areola area.
10. Noticing Visible Veins on Breast
An inflamed or enlarged vein on the breast can occur during strenuous exercise, with age, due to bruising, after the surgical process, or with a tight-fitting bra. Still, it can be an indicator of breast cancer. Hence, if you see a new vein without entanglement, then visit a healthcare professional to understand the condition.
11. General Aches & Fatigue
Breast cancer can cause hormonal imbalance, causing varied symptoms like joint aches, fatigue or muscle pain. Fatigue is more common in women diagnosed with advanced cancer than in early-stage cancer patients.
However, not all changes in the breast are cancerous; sometimes they can be inflammatory conditions. But women need to be aware of common signs of breast cancer. Focus on self-examining and regular screening by keeping the indicators discussed above to detect breast cancer early on.
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How to Conduct a Self-Examination for Breast Cancer?
Women should be aware of the early signs of breast cancer by knowing what their breasts feel and look like regularly to easily notice changes in their breasts. Let us look at some steps to take for self-examination:
- Visual Check in the Mirror: Look for changes in the shape, size, skin texture, symmetry, or position of your nipples.
- Check Arm Movements: Raise your arms and see if you notice any distortion or dimpling.
- Palpation Lying Down: Using the pads of your fingers, palpate the breast in a circle, moving from the outside edges of the breast into your nipples.
- Palpation While Standing: Wet skin can make it easier to feel potential lumps. Cover your entire breast and armpit areas while checking this.
However, the best time for breast self-check is a few days after menstruation, at this time your breasts are less likely to be tender. If you identify any new or unusual changes, then consult your doctors to figure out possible reasons for breast cancer and further treatment solutions.
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Final Takeaway
Being aware of the warning signs of breast cancer can help you detect early and improve treatment success. You must check your breasts regularly and pay attention to unusual changes to protect your health. If you notice any of the signs discussed in this blog, do not ignore them and see a doctor for a complete evaluation.
FAQs
1. Can breast pain be a warning sign of breast cancer?
Yes, but breast pain causes can also involve hormonal changes, infections or cysts. Hence, it is ideal to consult a healthcare professional to identify the accurate cause.
2. How to diagnose breast cancer?
Doctors leverage mammograms, biopsies, ultrasounds and clinical exams for diagnosis. If you experience unusual changes in your breasts, contact your doctor instantly.
3. When should I see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if you notice changes in your breast skin, abnormalities in your nipple areas, or significant lumps in your breasts.