Breast Cancer Signs And Symptoms
Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is an important part of your breast health. Although having regular screening tests for breast cancer is important, mammograms do not find every breast cancer. This means it’s also important for you to know what your breasts normally look and feel like, so youll be aware of any changes in your breasts.
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass . A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can be also soft, round, tender, or even painful.
Other possible symptoms of breast cancer include:
- Swelling of all or part of a breast
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking, or thickened
- Nipple discharge
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone
Many of these symptoms can also be caused by benign breast conditions. Still, its important to have any new breast mass, lump, or other change checked by an experienced health care professional so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Remember that knowing what to look for does not take the place of having regular screening for breast cancer.Screening mammography can often help find breast cancer early, before any symptoms appear. Finding breast cancer early gives you a better chance of successful treatment.
What Are Other Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
A lump in the breast is the most common symptom. It occurs in about 83% of people with breast cancer. However, a person may also experience some less common symptoms. The above study reviewed the symptoms of 2,316 females to find less common breast cancer symptoms. The study notes several other symptoms that may occur, including:
- a new lump in the neck or armpit
- a bruise on the breast
- a swollen arm on the affected side
Be Aware Of Your Breasts To Detect Breast Cancer Symptoms Early
Studies show that regular breast self-exams are not the best way to detect breast cancer early.
What does work? Being aware of how your breasts look and feel and seeing a doctor as soon as you notice changes or abnormalities.
The vast majority of breast cancers are found during daily activities like showering, applying deodorant or even scratching, says Therese Bevers, M.D., medical director of the Cancer Prevention Center.
Bevers advises women to see a doctor if they have one or more symptoms of breast cancer, no matter how mild they may seem.
You dont need to wait for any particular size or severity of symptoms to get checked out, she says. The earlier that breast cancer is detected, the better our chances of treating it successfully.
And you shouldnt ignore symptoms just because you breasts dont hurt. Pain is rarely a symptom of breast cancer, she says.
The vast majority of breast cancers are found during daily activitieslike showering, applying deodorant or even scratching.
Therese Bevers, M.D.
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Skin Rash On The Breasts
You may not associate breast cancer with redness or a skin rash, but in the case of inflammatory breast cancer , a rash is an early symptom. This is an aggressive form of breast cancer that affects the skin and lymph vessels of the breast.
Unlike other types of breast cancer, IBC doesnt usually cause lumps. However, your breasts may become swollen, warm, and appear red. The rash may resemble clusters of insect bites, and its not unusual to have itchiness.
Symptoms Of Angiosarcoma Of The Breast
Another rare form of breast cancer, angiosarcoma forms inside the lymph and blood vessels. Only a biopsy may definitively diagnose this type of cancer. Angiosarcoma can cause changes to the skin of your breast, such as the development of purple-colored nodules that resemble a bruise. These nodules, if bumped or scratched, may bleed. Over time, these discolored areas may expand, making your skin appear swollen in that area. You may or may not have breast lumps with angiosarcoma. If you also have lymphedema, which is swelling caused by a buildup of lymphatic fluid, angiosarcoma may occur in the affected arm. Cancer treatment sometimes damages the lymph vessels, which may lead to lymphedema.
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Cooperation With Tunne Rintasi Association
Clinic Helena cooperates with Tunne Rintasi ry association to increase breast cancer awareness. Together, we provide information about breast self-monitoring and its effects on the early detection of breast cancer. On Tunne Rintasi ry website, you can find a lot of breast self-monitoring material for different target groups.
Quick Examinations And Treatment
If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer or if, on the basis of your symptoms, you suspect it, you can access Helena Puontis consultation quickly and without a referral.
Why choose Clinic Helena:
- World-class expertise in breast cancer treatment, using the most modern methods.
- Helena Puontis unique Sensing Breast-method available only at Clinic Helena.
- We devote ourselves to helping You recover completeley from your illness.
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What Is Electrochemotherapy
Electrochemotherapy combines a low dose of a chemotherapy drug with electrical impulses. Its given to help with the symptoms of skin metastases.
Studies have shown that electrochemotherapy can:
- Help stop bleeding, broken skin and pain
- Reduce the size of skin metastases
Using electrical impulses allows the chemotherapy to work in the treated areas only, with little or no effect in other areas.
Electrochemotherapy wont treat any other areas of secondary breast cancer inside the body.
What Is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Australia and the second most common cancer to cause death in women, after lung cancer.
Breast cancer is the abnormal growth of the cells lining the breast lobules or ducts. These cells grow uncontrollably and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body. Both men and women can develop breast cancer, although it is uncommon in men. Transwomen, non-binary people can also get breast cancer.
Transgender and gender-diverse people can also get breast cancer. A transgender woman taking medication to lower male hormones and boost female hormones may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
It is estimated that 19,866 women and 164 men in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021.
In Australia, the overall five year survival rate for breast cancer in females is 91%. If the cancer is limited to the breast, 96% of patients will be alive five years after diagnosis this figure excludes those who die from other diseases. If the cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, five year relative survival drops to 80%.
Treatment depends on the extent of the cancer.
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When You Should See A Doctor
A best practice is to see your healthcare provider if you have any health concerns. However, many symptoms of breast cancer can also be symptoms of hormonal changes, especially due to menstruation.
If you notice that your breasts get tender and lumpy around the start or end of your menstrual cycle, thats normal. Everyones body reacts differently to changes in hormone levels.
If your breasts tend to hurt or the skin of your breasts is itchy or red and you cannot link the symptoms to anything external for example, if your bra is not the right size, it can result in painful breasts its best to book an appointment with your health care provider.
Injuries and trauma can also lead to symptoms that look like breast cancer, but are often easily treatable. A prior infection in the breasts, for example, could lead to discoloration or tenderness.
You should always get unusual lumps checked out, but they are not a confirmed sign of breast cancer. Lumps can be a sign of cysts or a fibrocystic breast condition, both of which are treatable. However, unusual lumps in your breast, coupled with changes in skin texture or changes in the shape of your nipples, warrant medical expertise.
What Does The Earliest Stage Of Skin Cancer Look Like
Basal cell carcinoma starts with the appearance of slightly transparent bumps, but they may also show through other symptoms. In the beginning, a basal cell carcinoma resembles a small bump, similar to a flesh-colored mole or a pimple. The abnormal growths can also look dark, shiny pink, or scaly red in some cases.
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Redness On Breast Or Nipple
The presence of cancerous cells in the breast can manifest in the form of skin discoloration. If your breasts look bruised or not quite the color they should be, it could be another symptom of breast cancer.
Cancer can result in many changes to your skin, not only discoloration. A change in the texture of the skin on the breast and around the nipple is a warning sign. Itchiness may accompany these changes as well. However, changes in skin color or texture could also be the symptoms of a benign skin condition, so a checkup by a professional is always your best bet.
The first symptom of breast cancer you should have checked out straight away is dimpling. It refers to the bumpy, pitted look that the skin of your breast can have, making it look like the skin of an orange. This phenomenon occurs due to a buildup of lymph fluid and can be one of the first signs of an aggressive type of cancer called inflammatory breast cancer.
A Lump In A Breast Or An Armpit
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump in a breast or an armpit. The lump may be clearly visible or can be felt by hand when examined. Sometimes the first symptom of breast cancer may be a metastasis in the lymph node, which can feel like a lump in the armpit.
It is wise to bear in mind, however, that not all nodules in the breast area mean cancer. Changes in a breast may also result from benign cysts.
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Other Breast Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms of breast cancer may also appear in other ways. Abnormal tiredness, , weight loss, or other types of pain may all be signs of cancer in the body. Self-monitoring of the breasts is important so that changes can be detected well in time. In Finland, women aged between 50 and 69 are invited to participate in mammography screenings every two years. This countrywide and effective breast cancer screening is carried out so that breast cancer can be detected as early as possible. More than 80% of those invited participate in screening, and about two-thirds of breast cancers are found in the course of this regular screening.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms
A rare type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer can have different symptoms to other types.
Your whole breast might look red and inflamed and feel sore. The breast might feel hard and the skin might look like orange peel.
See your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
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Finding A Health Care Provider
If you dont have a health care provider, one of the best ways to find a good one is to get a referral from a trusted family member or friend.
You can also call your local health department or a nearby hospital or clinic. If you have insurance, your insurance company may also have a list of health care providers in your area.
Early Signs Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer symptoms vary from one individual to another. The most viable symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A change in your breasts size, shape, or contour.
- A lump or swelling that might feel pea-sized.
- A mass or enlargement that lasts the whole of your menstrual cycle in or around your breast or underarm or around your collarbone. This can indicate that lymph nodes nearby have become infected with breast cancer. Inform your doctor if you have swelling since it may begin before you discover a lump.
- A change in the texture or appearance of your breast or nipple skin
- Skin that is red on your breasts or nipples.
- A region on either breast that stands out as being very different from the others.
- A firm region under your skin that resembles marble.
- A clear or blood-colored discharge from your nipple.
Some people never ever detect any breast cancer symptoms. Regular mammograms are essential for this reason.
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What Are The Early Signs Of Breast Cancer
Many people with breast cancer have no symptoms. They may not discover cancer until their routine mammogram. However, some people do experience early signs of breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society , these early signs may include:
- breast swelling with possible redness or discoloration
- dimples or puckers on the skin
- nipple turning inward, also known as nipple inversion
- redness or discoloration, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast
- nipple discharge that is not breast milk
- a lump in the breast or underarm
- swollen lymph nodes in the collarbone area or under your arm
Breast pain is a common reason people seek medical care with concerns about breast cancer. However, breast pain is only associated with up to 3.2% of all breast cancer cases.
The most common reasons for breast pain are related to the mammary glands. This mammary gland pain can be cyclical, meaning due to your hormonal cycles. It can also be noncyclical, meaning unrelated to hormonal cycles. Breast pain is common in people ages 3040 but is possible at any age.
Early Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
Lumps are the most common symptom of breast cancer, but cancerous lumps feel different than benign lumps. Like lumps, several other signs that could warn of breast cancer may just be the result of hormonal changes.
Self-exams are a smart strategy, since they allow you to get more familiar with your breasts, which then makes you more likely to identify any changes that are out of the ordinary for you. Knowing whats normal for you is crucial, but so is knowing what is abnormal for anyone.
Here are some of the most obvious signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
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What Are The Types Of Breast Cancer
There are different types of breast cancer. The types are based on which breast cells turn into cancer. The types include:
- Ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. This is the most common type.
- Lobular carcinoma, which begins in the lobules. It is more often found in both breasts than other types of breast cancer.
- Inflammatory breast cancer, in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. The breast becomes warm, red, and swollen. This is a rare type.
- Paget’s disease of the breast, which is a cancer involving the skin of the nipple. It usually also affects the darker skin around the nipple. It is also rare.
Breast Cancer Types And Symptoms
There are several kinds of breast cancer. Many of them share symptoms.
Symptoms of ductal carcinoma
This is the most common type of breast cancer. It begins in your ducts. About 1 in 5 new breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ . This means you have cancer in the cells that line your ducts, but it hasnât spread into nearby tissue.
You may not notice any symptoms of ductal carcinoma. It can also cause a breast lump or bloody discharge.
Symptoms of lobular carcinoma
This kind begins in the glands that make milk, called lobules. Itâs the second most common type of breast cancer. Symptoms include:
- Fullness, thickening, or swelling in one area
- Nipples that are flat or point inward
Symptoms of invasive breast cancer
Breast cancer thatâs spread from where it began into the tissues around it is called invasive or infiltrating. You may notice:
- A lump in your breast or armpit. You might not be able to move it separately from your skin or move it at all.
- One breast that looks different from the other
- A rash or skin thatâs thick, red, or dimpled like an orange
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Muscle weakness
Symptoms of triple-negative breast cancer
Breast cancer is called triple-negative if it doesnât have receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone and doesnât make a lot of a protein called HER2. This kind tends to grow and spread faster than other types, and doctors treat it differently.
Symptoms of male breast cancer
Learn more about breast cancer in men.
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How Many People With Breast Cancer Have Metastases
About a fifth of people with secondary breast cancer will develop skin metastases. This is not the same as having cancer that starts in the skin. The cells that have spread to the skin are breast cancer cells. Its also different to local recurrence, which is when primary breast cancer has come back in the chest or breast area,
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Ductal carcinoma in situ refers to an area of abnormal cells on one milk duct.
When a person receives this diagnosis, the cells have not invaded the surrounding breast tissue. However, having ductal carcinoma in situ can increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer later.
This condition generally does not cause symptoms. Doctors find through mammography. Rarely, a person may notice a lump in the breast or some discharge from the nipple.
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