Breast Cancer - Signs & Symptoms

The best way to deal with breast cancer, both before being diagnosed and after, is to be completely knowledgeable about it. Educating yourself about its symptoms, signs and causes can help you detect it early and also avoid it. With every one woman in eight being at the risk of getting this cancer, it is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

To understand this type of cancer, it is important that you understand its signs and symptoms so you can detect it at an early stage and prevent any further harm.

Signs & Symptoms

The first subjective sign or first symptom of breast cancer is a lump that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue. As per the Merck Manual, more than almost 80 percent of cancer cases are detected by a women when she feels a lump through a breast self examination. The American Cancer Society states that the first medical sign of breast cancer is detected by the physician when he discovers it through a mammogram.

Another indication of this cancer is the detection of lumps in the lymph nodes located in the armpits, as the first area it starts spreading to is the lymph nodes there.

There are other signs or symptoms as well, like:

• Change in the size of the breast,
• Change of the shape,
• The skin of the breast starts dimpling,
• There is nipple inversion,
• Spontaneous single nipple discharge,
• Pain in the breast (mastodynia) is not a reliable symptom, but can also be indicative of other breast problems.

When the cancer cells spread to the dermal lymphatics, that is, the small lymph vessels present in the skin of the breast, it can resemble skin inflammation and thus is known as Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC).

The symptoms of this kind include pain, warmth, swelling, redness throughout the breast and an orange peel texture to the skin, which is referred to as peau d'orange.

Paget's disease of the Breast

Another complex symptom of this cancer is the Paget's disease of the breast. In this syndrome the skin presents changes as eczematoid skin changes. It shows redness and mild flaking of the skin of the nipple. It is said that as Paget's advances, the symptoms may change to redness, itching, tingling, burning, increased sensitivity and pain. Around half of the women diagnosed with Paget's syndrome have also had a lump in the breast.

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Sometimes the cancer presents itself as metastatic disease, which means the cancer that has spread from its original organ, the breast. The symptoms of this type depend upon the location of the metastasis. Common sites where metastasis occurs is the bone, lung, liver and the brain. Unexplained weight loss can be a sign of an occurrence of cancer, as can fever and chills. Pain in the joints can be manifestations of this cancer. Jaundice and neurological symptoms, too, could point towards this. These symptoms are non-specific; that means they could be the symptoms of any other illness.

Many times the symptoms of a breast disorder do not turn out to represent breast cancer. There are benign breast diseases, like mastitis and fibrodenoma, which can be the causes of the symptoms, though any symptom should be considered seriously at all times by both patients and doctors.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be an unsettling experience. Useful resources to deal with this time are books. You could consider Secrets of Cancer Survivors by Elizabeth Gould. For more information, please click here: http://www.secretsofcancersurvivors.com

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Knowing your body well will help you know normal changes and one that need medical attention.Having regular check up give you great defense against diseases.


Following are some symptoms to look for:

==>Unfamiliar pain in the breast or in the armpit-unusual in sense that pain is different from how how you feel when you have monthly periods,also if it u feel it in one or both breasts.If it is not caused by hormonal changes or just in one breast or armpit.go to the doctor and be checked out.

==>A lump or a tumor in the breast or in the armpit-Sometimes is caused by hormonal changes but if it persist,don't wait before it is too late .Go for screening and know the cause of swelling.


==>A change in size or shape of the mature breast-If you notice any changes in a mature breast more if it's occurring on one breast only.That is a cause for alarm to seek health professional for breast examination.


==>Fluid other than milk leaking from the nipple-on you menopause you may experience non-blood leakage from nipples of both breast due to hormonal changes,but if it occur on one breast only,then you need medical attention.


==>Change in size of the nipple-when your body weight change it is natural for nipple to change it's size too.But if it retracts in and doesn't return to its normal shape, seek help from your doctor for a manual exam.

If there is a problem below the surface of the nipple then having a diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound may be the best option.


==>Changes of color, shape or texture of the nipple -If you notice puckers, a rash on the nipple skin or darker skin that around the nipple.If after using some cream still doesn't help,then don't waste more time consult doctor when still in curable stage.


However know that breast implants, usage of antiperspirants, and wearing under wire bras do not raise your risk for breast cancer. There is no proven evidence yet to link breast cancer and abortion.

Breast Cancer's Symptoms, breast mass

Breast cancer doesn't usually cause hurt or pain to people in the first stages when they have this type of cancer. When the disease first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer advances some of the following symptoms may become apparent. If these symptoms are observed then the individual should consult her physician who would then carry out tests to find out for sure if the individual does have breast cancer or not.

. Change in shape and size of the breast.

. Lump or mass present in the armpit.

. Presence of a breast mass or breast lump, on examination, which is generally painless, has no regular borders and is firm to hard to the touch.

. A nipple discharge which is abnormal in that it is usually green, bloody or clear to yellow fluid or may look like pus.

. A change in appearance or any sensation of the nipple, that is, if there is any itching, any enlargement or the nipple is retracted.

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Enlargement, pain in the breast, or any discomfort on only one side.

. Change in the feel or color of the skin of the nipple, or areola or the breast itself, that is, a redness, veins on breast surface are accentuated, scaly; dimpled or puckered and a retracted appearance.

. Some symptoms of an advanced case of the disease are weight loss, bone pain, skin ulceration and swelling of one arm.

Of the above-mentioned symptoms there are some that most women are not aware of that are actually symptoms of breast cancer. They are:

. An itchy breast

. A breast that constantly feels warm or hot to the touch - This is a symptom of the rare and dangerous breast cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer.

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A flat or an inverted nipple - Sometimes individuals have an inverted nipple from birth, this does not count as a symptom.

. The skin is dimpled around the breast or has the appearance of an orange peel - Most individuals feel embarrassed about this condition to show it to a physician. Most women think it is cellulite, which is not the case.

. A constant swollen and tender breast and/or a sudden increase in breast size - Women should consult their physician if they notice a sudden increase in breast size and also if there is constant swelling and tenderness in the breast other than when a woman is menstruating as it is fairly common for a woman's breast to get swollen and feel tender during her period.

. Breast is red - This is often a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer, which usually can go undetected by self-breast examination and mammogram.

Some common symptoms of breast cancer in men:

Even though breast cancer is more common amongst women, men too can get breast cancer. It is estimated that over 1600 men in the United States alone get breast cancer each year. Some symptoms of breast cancer in men include:

. Swelling in breast, chest wall or nipple

. A lump

. A discharge from the nipple

. Inversion of the nipple, that is, the nipple turns inward

. Dimpling or puckering of the skin of the breast

. The skin of the breast or the nipple has a reddish appearance or it has a very scaly and dry appearance.