This Photo Could Help You Spot The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
Make sure you’re aware.
Although most of us secretly believe we’re invincible, we’re not, and health issues like breast cancer could happen to any one of us, no matter how young we are. Which is why this picture of a box of lemons that’s recently gone viral is so important because it’ll help you detect the symptoms of breast cancer.
And the sooner we detect it, the higher chance of recovery we’ve got.
The image, created by the Worldwide Breast Cancer organisation as part of their Know Your Lemons campaign, perfectly illustrates all the different red flags we should look for when it comes to our breasts.
A lump is the most commonly recognised symptom of breast cancer, but that might not always emerge, and this graphic helps remind us of that. In fact, anything from dimpling to a retracted nipple, to an indentation in the breast and even just a change in shape or size could be an indicator that something’s not right. So study this and study it hard, because you never know when it could help save your life.
Although the picture has been in existence for some time, it’s only recently come to light after it was shared on Facebook by breast cancer survivor Erin Smith Chieze. In the post, Erin recalled how a photo she’d previously seen shared on her timeline about breast cancer symptoms led her to know instantly that she had the disease herself.
Continuing her explanation of the importance of images such as these being showed, Erin wrote:
Follow Cat on .
Diagnosing Breast Cancer In Men
If you have symptoms of breast cancer, such as a hard, painless lump in one of your breasts, your GP will carefully examine you.
During the examination, they’ll also look for other possible signs of male breast cancer, such as swollen lymph nodes .
It’s likely your GP will refer you for further tests if there’s a possibility you may have breast cancer. These tests are described below.
Benign Breast Conditions Linked To A Moderate Increase In Breast Cancer Risk
Benign breast conditions known as atypical hyperplasias are linked to a moderate increase in the lifetime risk of breast cancer. However, if you are diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia, your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer in any given year remains low. The actual risk of developing breast cancer over a lifetime depends on other breast cancer risk factors as well as the age you were diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia.
Hyperplasia means that there is excessive growth of breast cells that are also atypical, meaning they have some, but not all, of the features of carcinoma in situ . These cells arent cancer but they arent completely normal either. Sometimes they are also called neoplasias.
Thanks to the increased use of mammography screening, atypical hyperplasias are being diagnosed more often than ever before. An abnormal finding through screening would lead to biopsy and examination of the tissue.
If youre diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia, keep in mind that these conditions are not breast cancer. They also dont mean you will develop breast cancer one day. Instead, these conditions suggest a potential for moderate increased risk in both breasts, not just the breast where the cell changes were found. They give you good reason to pay closer attention to your breast health and perhaps work with a breast specialist. However, most women with atypical hyperplasias will never get breast cancer.
There are two main types of atypical hyperplasia:
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Diagnosis Of Benign Breast Conditions
The tests and procedures used to diagnose a benign breast condition are often the same as those used to diagnose breast cancer. The goals of diagnosis are to:
- make sure that the growth or other change detected is really benign
- determine whether the condition is associated with any increase in cancer risk
Procedures could include:
Your testing plan will depend on your symptoms and what type of benign breast condition is suspected. Your doctor might not be able to tell you much until the test results come back. Waiting is hard, but remember that benign conditions are more common than breast cancer.
In most cases, todays imaging techniques are advanced enough to tell the difference between a benign breast condition and cancer, notes Alan Stolier, M.D., a surgical breast oncologist with St. Charles Surgical Hospital and the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans. If anything about the imaging is suspicious, we will go a step further with biopsy, he says. If we dont recommend anything else be done, we have a high level of confidence it is benign.
About Breast Cancer In Men
Breast cancer is often thought of as a condition that only affects women, but men can also develop it.
It’s much less common in men than women, with only around 1 new case of breast cancer diagnosed for every 100,000 men in the UK each year.
The cancer develops in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples. The most common symptom is a hard, painless lump in one of the breasts.
However, the vast majority of breast lumps are caused by a condition called gynaecomastia. This is a common non-cancerous condition where male breast tissue becomes enlarged.
Breast cancer in men can also cause nipple problems, such as the nipple turning in on itself or nipple discharge.
Read more about preventing cancer
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‘i Had Fevers And Difficulty Breastfeeding’
I was misdiagnosed with mastitis twice because I had high fevers and trouble breastfeeding. It turned out to be cancer. Tumors were blocking the milk ducts. I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 32, five weeks after I had my first child. It didnt look like mastitis at all. So many people told me ‘100% chance’ it is nothing. No one thought of any alternative, however, until multiple courses of treatment failed.
Melissa Thompson, healthcare policy advocate, Stamford, Connecticut
Is A Breast Indentation Always Cancer
4.1/5breastbreastbreast cancergiven here
A: Dimpling of the breast looks like a small area of skin that is pulled in. The best way to check for dimpling is during a monthly self breast exam right after your period ends, if you’re having regular cycles. Look at the breasts for any changes in shape, or any skin retraction.
Likewise, can fibrocystic breast cause indentation? new or unusual lumps in your breasts. redness or puckering of the skin on your breasts. discharge from your nipple, especially if it’s clear, red, or bloody. an indentation or flattening of your nipple.
Beside above, what can be mistaken for breast cancer?
Sclerosing adenosis may be found on a mammogram. Because it has a distorted shape, it may be mistaken for breast cancer. A biopsy may be needed to rule out breast cancer. Sclerosing adenosis may be found with atypical hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ or ductal carcinoma in situ .
What does a breast with cancer look like?
Signs of Inflammatory Breast CancerThis rare, fast-growing type rarely causes a distinct lump. Instead, breast skin can become thick, red, and look pitted, like an orange peel. The area might also feel warm or tender and have small bumps that look like a rash.
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‘my Breast Looked A Little Pink’
In the shower one day, I noticed a pale pinkness on my breast just below my nipple area, which looked more like a mild sunburn than a rash. I knew something was off. I had my ob-gyn take a look, and he said he wasnt concerned at all because it was barely noticeable. He suggested my bra fit too snugly, and I needed to go shopping for new bras. So I did just that.
“Over time, that pink area hardened slightly and was sore to the touch. My ob-gyn again said he wasnt concerned. Eventually the pain increased behind my breast in my back. My ob-gyn said that breast cancer does not hurt, so I didnt need to worry about it. He ordered a mammogram to put my mind at ease. The mammogram and all other tests came back normal.
“Weeks went by and my lower back began to hurt. Eventually, after my GP suggested I had arthritis and I went to physical therapy. I went to see a breast specialist. He told me I had mastitis and gave me antibiotics. That didnt help. Back at the breast surgeon, he sent a picture of my breast to the top surgeon who ordered a diagnostic mammogram, which includes a sonogram and a biopsy. I was diagnosed with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer in my breast, bones, and liver.
Jennifer Cordts, stay-at-home mom, Dallas
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Cooper’s Ligament Fibrosis And Scars
Cooper’s ligaments are the supporting structures of the breast, and most people are familiar with these as the ligaments you wish to keep in shape as you age. Stretching of these ligaments over time are behind to slang “Coop’s droop” referring to the “descent” of breasts with age.
Fibrosis of Cooper’s ligaments can occur due to both benign and malignant breast changes.This is one way in which underlying tumors result in nipple retraction and changes in the surface of the appearance of the skin. But benign breast conditions, such as inflammation, fat necrosis, and biopsy scars can also damage these ligaments causing the surface appearance of breast cancer.
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Skin Irritation Or Dimpling As A Symptom Of Breast Cancer
A breast mass or lump is the most common symptom of breast cancer and is usually what women look for in a breast self-exam. But it is important to look for other alterations in the breast and nipple, including changes in the shape or size and the appearance of the skin, like thickness or abnormal coloration. Skin irritation or dimpling, with texture similar to an orange peel, is also a sign that might indicate breast cancer. While it may occur due to other causes, skin irritation or dimpling can be related to inflammatory breast cancer , a rare but aggressive type of the condition.
IBC is caused by inflammatory breast cancer, resulting from an inflamed tissue and blockage of the lymph vessels in the skin. It is important that women see their physician and report the abnormal appearance.
There are also benign causes for the skin to become dimpled. Occasionally mistaken for breast cancer, a condition known as fat necrosis may also cause skin irritation or dimpling. This happens when the fatty tissue in the breast become damaged and dies, causing a lump to form. The symptoms might be similar, which is why physicians often request a needle biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Notice A Change Talk To Your Doctor
While there are many breast changes and conditions and changes you may experience that arent related to cancer, thanks to early cancer detection education, women are becoming more and more aware of changes in their breasts that could be.
A mass or lump thats painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancer tumors can also be tender, soft or rounded. Thats why its important to make an appointment with your doctor if you notice:
- New or different lumps in your breasts
- Redness or puckering of the skin on your breasts
- Discharge from your nipple of anything but breast milk
- An indentation or flattening of your nipple
- Swelling of all or part of a breast
Resources:
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Breast Ultrasound Findings With Breast Cancer
Breast ultrasound exams are an important supplement when used along with mammograms. They can sometimes distinguish a cyst from a solid mass, and when a cyst is present it can be drained under ultrasound guidance to resolve the problem. Ultrasounds may be used along with mammogram as a screening tool for women with dense breasts as well, but they do have a relatively high false positive rate. This means that they have a relatively high rate of suggesting a cancer even though a cancer is not present.
On an ultrasound, signs that suggest a cancer include an irregular solid mass, irregular margins, and a “non-parallel orientation.”
Nbc News Correspondent 47 Reveals How A Dent In Her Breast Was The First Sign Of Her Stage 2 Cancer That Drove Her To Get A Mammogram While Covering A North Carolina Hurricane
- In 2016, NBC News correspondent Kristen Dahlgren reported a story on less common signs of breast cancer, including changes in the shape and feel of them
- In September, on her 47th birthday, Dahlgren noticed a ‘dent’ in her breast
- Most women check their breasts for lumps, but changes in shape and texture are among the other signs of cancer
- While covering a hurricane in North Carolina, Dahlgren rushed in for a mammogram and discovered she had dense breast tissue and stage 2 cancer
- She is in chemo and now and wrote about her experience for Today to warn of the lesser known signs of cancer to watch for
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Signs Of Breast Cancer Everyone Must Know
Today, we are sharing key signs of breast cancer and how you can look for those signs. Remember, a lump by no means cancer. However, you should be checking your breasts regularly.
An image created by Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, founder of the charity Worldwide Breast Cancer, has gone viral after being shared by a cancer patient on Facebook
Thank you for the informative graphics KnowYourLemons.Com.
Genetics And Family History
A genetic mutation is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. The result is that one or more of the body’s processes may not work in the way they should.
There are a number of genetic mutations known to increase your risk of developing breast cancer. The most significant mutation identified is known as the BRCA2 mutation. Faulty genes are believed to be the cause of male breast cancer in around 1 or 2 in every 10 cases.
There’s also evidence that breast cancer can run in families, especially in men who have a first-degree relative who has developed breast cancer, such as a mother or sister.
Routine testing for the faulty genes that cause breast cancer in men isn’t usually carried out on the NHS, unless specifically requested by a specialist. However, some private clinics may offer gene testing. Tests can be expensive, with prices ranging from around £2,000 to £3,000.
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How Is Inflammatory Breast Cancer Diagnosed
Lumps usually do not form with inflammatory breast cancer, making the condition harder to diagnose. A mammogram usually does not identify IBC.
Your doctor diagnoses IBC based on your symptoms, a physical examination, and test results. In some cases, doctors rule out other issues that may cause similar symptoms, like infections of the breast tissue . Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat a suspected infection. Let your doctor know immediately if antibiotics do not resolve your symptoms.
To confirm your diagnosis, your doctor takes a tissue sample for further evaluation in a laboratory. The biopsy results allow your doctor to stage the cancer, or determine whether it has spread outside the breast tissue. Biopsies also help doctors discover whether cancer cells may benefit from certain targeted therapies, like hormone drugs.
Your doctor may also order one of these tests to determine whether IBC has spread to other tissues:
- Mammogram: A screening test using low-energy X-rays to create a picture of the inside of the breast
- Ultrasound: Sound waves create pictures of the interior of breasts
- Positron emission tomography : Uses dye containing radioactive drugs to view internal structures and check for diseases
- Computed tomography : Takes several X-rays of the breast, combining them to create a cross-sectional image
- Magnetic resonance imaging : Using radio waves, magnets and a computer, this imaging technique forms pictures of interior body structures and processes
- Bone scan
What Is The Prognosis For People With Benign Breast Disease
The majority of women with benign breast disease dont develop breast cancer. If you have a disease type that increases cancer risk, your healthcare provider may recommend more frequent cancer screenings. Certain breast diseases can make you more prone to developing lumps. You should notify your healthcare provider anytime you notice changes in how your breasts look or feel.
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Dent In Breast And Feels Like A Hole
Hi, I’m hoping I can find someone with similar issues as mine as I’m driving myself crazy! A few months ago I noticed a tiny dent in my breast, right under my nipple on the areola. Last weekend I caught sight of it in the mirror and i think it has gotten slightly bigger so I went to gp who has referred me for urgent 2 week appointment. I know how all of this goes as my sister has metastatic breast cancer in her bones and I was there from when she was diagnosed, through chemotherapy etc. Part of me feels that surely a family can’t be so unlucky to have two sisters diagnosed within 5 years but I don’t suppose cancer really cares who it targets! My main curiosity is that when I push the dent I can almost feel a hole, as though there is missing tissue. I can’t find anything about this online , good or bad so I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this.
How How Does The Procedure Work
Before the examination begins, a radioactive substance is produced in a machine called a cyclotron and attached, or tagged, to a natural body compound, most commonly glucose, but sometimes water or ammonia. Once this substance is administered to the patient, the radioactivity localizes in the appropriate areas of the body and is detected by the PET scanner.
Different colors or degrees of brightness on a PET image represent different levels of tissue or organ function. For example, because healthy tissue uses glucose for energy, it accumulates some of the tagged glucose, which will show up on the PET images. However, cancerous tissue, which uses more glucose than normal tissue, will accumulate more of the substance and appear brighter than normal tissue on the PET images.
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