Causes Of Breast Asymmetry
During puberty, the left and right breast often develop at a slightly different pace. Breasts may appear asymmetrical until they have finished growing, or they may remain different shapes and sizes throughout a person’s life.
Hormonal changes can cause one or both breasts to change at any point in a person’s life, for example:
- at specific points in the menstrual cycle
- during or near menopause
- during pregnancy or breast-feeding
- when using a hormonal contraceptive, such as birth control pills
Breasts that change size or shape because of hormones often return to normal. Hormonal changes can also cause breasts to feel lumpy or lose fat and tissue. However, if these changes do not go away, it is a good idea to visit the doctor to who will check for any possible health problems.
Some underlying conditions that can affect breast size and shape include:
- Tubular breasts: Also called breast hypoplasia, tubular breasts can develop in one or both breasts during puberty.
- Amastia or amazia: A condition that causes problems in the development of breast tissue, the areola, or nipple.
- Poland Syndrome: Where a chest muscle does not develop properly, which can affect the breast on one side of the body.
Treating Paget’s Disease Of The Nipple
Surgery is the main treatment for Paget’s disease of the nipple. Depending on whether the cancer has spread, surgery will either involve removing the whole breast , or the nipple and areola with the breast tissue underneath them .
If the whole of your breast is removed, breast reconstruction surgery can be used to create a breast shape to match your remaining breast.
You may also need further treatment if you have invasive breast cancer. This may be a combination of:
- chemotherapy where powerful medicine is used to destroy cancerous cells
- radiotherapy where controlled doses of high-energy radiation are used to destroy cancerous cells
- targeted or hormone therapy which lowers the risk of cancer returning in the same breast , and it lowers the risk of cancerous cells spreading elsewhere in the body
If Paget’s disease is detected and treated in its early stages, there’s a good chance of a full recovery.
Read more about treating Paget’s disease of the nipple.
How Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosed
If IBC is suspected because of skin inflammation, nipple changes, or other IBC symptoms, breast imaging like mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI will be necessary. If an abnormality is identified with breast imaging, then a needle biopsy will be performed. In a needle biopsy, a thin, hollow needle is used to extract a sample that can be examined under a microscope. If an abnormality is not identified with breast imaging, then a punch biopsy of the skin can be performed. During a punch biopsy, a special tool that looks kind of like a miniature cookie cutter is used to take a sample of all the layers of skin. Local anesthetic is used to numb the area before the procedure so you wont feel pain during the biopsy.
Because IBC can be difficult to diagnose and because it is typically a more aggressive form of breast cancer, the cancer may have spread outside of the breast by the time it is found. Staging studies can be performed to look for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Recommended Reading: Breast Duct Cancer Symptoms
How To Check Your Breasts:
Check your breasts regularly and get to know whats normal for you.
If you notice any changes, talk to your doctor.
To check your breasts, look at them and feel each breast and armpit and up to your collarbone. It can be easier if you do this in the shower or bath, by running a soapy hand over each breast and up under each armpit.
You want a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hands, keeping fingers flat and together and moving in a circular motion.
Can Itching Be A Sign Of Breast Cancer
Itchiness of the breast is not usually due to cancer. It is usually due to other conditions that can affect the breast such as eczema or mastitis .
There is a condition that affects the nipple called Paget’s Disease that can cause itching.
This condition develops in the nipple or the darker area of skin around it . It usually first appears as a red, scaly rash of the skin that may look like eczema. There might also be some discharge or bleeding from the nipple.
With Pagets disease there might be breast cancer in the tissues behind the nipple. Or there might be carcinoma in situ. This means that there are cancer cells but they are completely contained within the lining of the breast ducts. It is possible for someone to have Pagets of the breast with no underlying cancer but this is less common.
Recommended Reading: Hormone Therapy Metastatic Breast Cancer
Treating Pagets Disease Of The Nipple
Pagets disease of the nipple is often associated with other forms of breast cancer.
It’s usually treated in the same way as more common types of breast cancer, either by removing the cancerous section of the breast or sometimes by removing the entire breast a procedure known as a mastectomy .
You can discuss any concerns you have with your oncologist who will be able to explain each phase of your treatment.
What Is Staging Of Male Breast Cancer
Doctors carry out staging to determine the extent to which a cancer has spread within the body. Staging of breast cancer in men is carried out identically to the staging of breast cancer in women. Imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging , ultrasound, and bone scans may be performed to evaluate the presence and extent of metastatic disease once the initial diagnosis of breast cancer had been made. The American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system takes into account the tumor size, lymph node involvement by cancer, and presence of metastasis. For 2018, a new edition of the AJCC staging system also takes into account biologic characteristics of the tumor including estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status, tumor grade , and the presence of the HER-2 protein on the cancer cells.
- T: tumor size and extent of local spread
- N: extent of tumor involvement of lymph nodes in the axillary region. Since the nipple area is rich in lymphatic vessels, male breast cancer commonly spreads via the lymphatic channels to the axillary lymph nodes.
- M: presence of distant metastases
Stage 0
Stage 0 refers to intraductal carcinoma or ductal cancer in situ, in which the cancer cells have not spread beyond the boundaries of the ducts themselves.
Stage I
In Stage I breast cancer, the tumor is 2 cm or less in greatest diameter and has not spread to the lymph nodes or to other sites in the body.
Stage II
Stage III
Stage IV
Read Also: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Estrogen Positive
Pagets Disease Of The Nipple
The treatments recommended for Pagets disease of the nipple will depend on how much of the nipple, areola or breast is involved. Surgery is one of the main treatment options for this disease. Radiotherapy may also be recommended. If invasive breast cancer is found, further treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and/or hormonal therapy may be needed. Treatment options vary depending on individual circumstances.
Words: Francesca Brook
Mohammad Ignored A Lump At First Although It Sometimes Bled One Day He Found A Large Blood
I feel lump first, then it start bleeding. In 2006, start bleeding. Minor bleedings, and I just ignore that. So I just normally- something you know. And, one night I was asleep and next day when I wake up
You noticed a lump first- How did it- So you dont know how long it had been there? Did you show anybody else? How long did you wait before you went to the GP? So you had-
Also Check: Stage 3 Ductal Carcinoma Prognosis
How Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosed And Treated
A diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer is classified as Stage 3 breast cancer and is diagnosed through your physicians clinical judgment and a biopsy. A biopsy for inflammatory breast cancer is a biopsy of the skin of the breast.
If the pathology results show that the skin and dermal lymphatics of the breast skin contain breast cancer cells, this confirms it is inflammatory breast cancer.
Typically, IBC grows rapidly and requires aggressive treatment. This is the only type of breast cancer that requires urgent treatment, beginning with chemotherapy. Most oncologists recommend both local treatment of the affected breast and systemic treatment .
Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and hormone treatments may be included in the regimen. With aggressive treatment, the survival rate for inflammatory breast cancer patients has improved significantly in recent years.
Are Asymmetrical Breasts Normal
In most cases, breast asymmetry is perfectly normal. In fact, the two sides of the whole body might be slightly different, though any asymmetry may be more noticeable in the breasts.
However, if a person notices a change in the size or shape of one breast, they should see a doctor to find out the cause.
A significant difference in size or shape between the breasts is less common. This does not always cause medical problems, but a doctor can advise on this.
Also Check: Breast Pain During Chemo
What Are The Different Types Of Male Breast Cancer
The most common type of male breast cancer is infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is also a common type of breast cancer in women. Ductal carcinoma refers to cancers with origins in the ducts of the breast, and the term infiltrating means that the cancer cells have spread beyond the ducts into the surrounding tissue. On the other hand, lobular cancers , common in women, are extremely rare in men since male breast tissue does not normally contain lobules.
Other less common types of cancers of the breast that have been reported in men include ductal carcinoma in situ , cystosarcoma phylloides , and Paget’s disease of the breast . Some other types of breast cancer that occur in men are named for their growth patterns and microscopic appearance of the cancer cells, including papillary carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer , and medullary carcinoma.
About 85% of breast cancers in men have estrogen receptors on their cell membranes. Estrogen receptors on the cell membranes allow estrogen molecules to bind to the cancer cells. Estrogen binding to the cancer cells can stimulate cell growth and multiplication.
The most common clinical sign of breast cancer in men is a firm, usually painless mass located just under the nipple. There may not be other associated symptoms. The average size of breast cancer in men when first discovered is about 2.5 cm in diameter. The cancer may cause skin changes in the area of the nipple. These changes can include
Nipple Discharge Is Not Necessarily Cause For Alarm
Discharge from a nipple is common but is rarely associated with breast cancer. Funk recommends that women ask themselves three questions about any discharge they notice: Does it contain blood? Does it come from one spot on the nipple surface? Is it spontaneous? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, there may be some reason to worry. But if the discharge is milky white, green, or yellow, and comes from multiple ducts only when pressed, it is most likely normal. However, copious milky discharge when you are not breast-feeding may be related to a benign tumor on the pituitary gland called a prolactinoma. If you have discharge, make an appointment with your doctor, who may then recommend that you see a breast cancer specialist.
Also Check: Invasive Breast Cancer Definition
Interview 32 Noticed A Lump Near His Nipple He Went To The Doctor As Soon As He Also Noticed
So go right back to the beginning and tell me how you first suspected there might have been a problem?
So, when you very first noticed it, you went so you noticed it on the Monday, and then again on the Thursday? And that was the first time youd noticed that? So you went straight to the doctor?
Topical Creams And Gels
Consider applying a simple itch-relieving cream or gel to your breasts. Over-the-counter options usually include a numbing agent called pramoxine, which suppresses the itch at the skin level.
Topical applications of creams, gels, or lotions containing hydrocortisone are also available over the counter.
Also Check: What Is Stage 3 Cancer In Lymph Nodes
Diagnosing Paget’s Disease Of The Nipple
You should see your GP if you notice any changes in the skin of your nipple or areola.
As Paget’s disease of the nipple is associated with breast cancer, the sooner it’s diagnosed, the better the outcome is likely to be.
Also see your GP if you develop a lump in your breast. Although most breast lumps are not cancerous, it’s important to have them checked out.
A biopsy is used to confirm a suspected diagnosis of Paget’s disease of the nipple. A small tissue sample will be taken from your nipple and examined under a microscope to see if it’s cancerous.
If the results of the biopsy indicate Paget’s disease, you’ll have a mammogram to investigate further.
Read more about diagnosing Paget’s disease of the nipple.
Could It Be Cancer
In some rare cases, itchiness in your nipples could be an early sign of breast cancer.
Pagets disease of the breast, a type of breast cancer that specifically affects the nipple, can cause itchiness, though it often only affects one side of your chest.
People of any sex can develop Pagets disease, but it typically affects people assigned female at birth.
This type of cancer isnt common: Its only responsible for about of breast cancer cases. That said, people with Pagets disease also often have another type of breast cancer, typically ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma.
Pagets disease symptoms can mimic atopic dermatitis or eczema symptoms. You might notice:
- a nipple that appears inverted or flat
- inflammation, tingling, or burning
- a lump in your breast
- bloody or yellow nipple discharge
- thickening, flaking, or scaly skin around your nipple
If youve noticed any of these signs, its best to connect with a healthcare professional. They can offer guidance on next steps toward getting the right diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for Pagets disease and other types of breast cancer include:
- chemotherapy
If youre pregnant, you might wonder whether you should worry about that new and unusual itching in your nipples.
Often, though, its just another side effect of pregnancy.
Pregnancy-related changes in hormones like estrogen and progesterone may leave you feeling itchier than usual, for one.
Other possible causes of itchy nipples during pregnancy include:
Recommended Reading: Is Invasive Breast Cancer Curable
Do You Have Breast Cancer Symptoms Or Something Less Scary
Approximately 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, which makes it the second most common cancer in American women. Lumps in the breast, changes in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, nipple discharge, or red scaly patches are some of the symptoms of the disease. But these changes dont always mean cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, when most women notice something new going on with their breasts, its usually because of hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, new motherhood, or aging.
These normal abnormalities are called benign changes. Your breast tissue, for example, may be denser when youre young but become less dense with age. Extra fluid in your breasts around the time of your period can cause swelling. Your breasts may feel lumpy when youre pregnant due to growing and multiplying milk glands, and they may also feel lumpy before menopause because of shifting hormone levels.
Read on for more information about which symptoms arent worrisome and why.
Can Cancer Treatments Cause Itching
Some cancer treatments may lead to itching or rashes, which can occur both over the entire body or in isolated areas. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy have all been known to cause itchiness.
For a patient undergoing chemotherapy, itching could be an early sign that they are allergic to the drugs. In the case of radiation therapy, itching can indicate damage to the healthy cells. For patients undergoing immunotherapy, rashes and itchiness can be signs of inflammation in the skin.
In some instances, itching may be a chronic side effect of certain treatments, including:
- Biologic agents
- Radiation therapy
- A variety of targeted drugs
If youre experiencing itchiness, make sure to tell your oncologist as they will be able prescribe something to help.
Also Check: Inflammatory Breast Cancer Age Range
What Causes Itchy Breasts And Nipples
Theres a surprisingly long list of things that can lead to itchy breasts and nipples. These can range from common, no-big-deal issues to more serious, but rare, health conditions. Heres what to keep on your radar:
You probably have a go-to bra or two that you wear more often than youd care to admit, and you probably wash them close to never. Unfortunately, this can cause issues with your boobs. Dirty clothes, including underclothes, often have bacteria that can irritate the skin, Dr. Goldenberg says. If the circumstances are exactly rightlike if you have a cut in your skin and bacteria from a dirty bra get into a crack in your skinthis can even cause an infection.
Bras are made with all different types of fabric, from silk to lace to cottonbut certain materials can be seriously irritating to your breasts. Synthetic fabrics are the biggest problem, Dr. Goldenberg says. He calls out polyester and latex as some of the top potential irritants, especially if you have sensitive skin that is known to get fussy.
If youre wearing the same bras and shirts you always have, this probably isnt the reason behind your itchy boobs or nipples. But if you recently started wearing a new top, started going braless completely, or switched up your workout routine to something that causes more bounceand breast or nipple itchiness followedfriction is definitely a cause to consider.