Schedule Your Mammogram Today
The best prevention is early detection. Get screened. The American College of Radiology recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 40 or earlier if you have an immediate family history of breast cancer. To schedule a mammogram at the Phelps Health Comprehensive Breast Center, call Centralized Scheduling at .
Metastatic Breast Cancer Symptoms
Metastatic breast cancer symptoms depend on the part of the body to which the cancer has spread and its stage. Sometimes, metastatic disease may not cause any symptoms.
- If the breast or chest wall is affected, symptoms may include pain, nipple discharge, or a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm.
- If the bones are affected, symptoms may include pain, fractures, constipation or decreased alertness due to high calcium levels.
- If tumors form in the lungs, symptoms may include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, coughing, chest wall pain or extreme fatigue.
- If the liver is affected, symptoms may include nausea, extreme fatigue, increased abdominal girth, swelling of the feet and hands due to fluid collection and yellowing or itchy skin.
- If breast cancer spreads to the brain or spinal cord and forms tumors, symptoms may include pain, confusion, memory loss, headache, blurred or double vision, difficulty with speech, difficulty with movement or seizures.
Lump In Breast While Breastfeeding
There are many types of lumps and other breast changes that can happen during breastfeeding. Plugged milk ducts, engorged breasts, and mastitis are a few of the possibilities, and all can present as a breast lump. The good news is they respond well to treatment.
Other changes in your breasts, however, may signal issues that are not related to breastfeeding. While most of the time breast lumps are nothing to worry about, in rare instances they may be serious and require medical attention. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Read Also: How Do You Find Out You Have Breast Cancer
How Does Breastfeeding Prevent Cancer
According to midwife and researcher Professor Diana du Plessis, breastfeeding protects women from cancer due to the hormonal changes which take place during pregnancy and breastfeeding which cause a pause in monthly menstruation and the number and duration of ovulations. Consequently, women who breastfeed arent exposed to as much estrogenic and other hormones over their lifetime as women who do not breastfeed. This benefit is maximized if women breastfeed their babies for at least one year.
Breastfeeding With Breast Cancer
Though it isnt a common occurrence to be diagnosed with breast cancer during or soon after a pregnancy, it is something that happens. We want to help you understand the benefits and risks associated with breastfeeding with breast cancer. Much of your decision rests on what type of treatment you are receiving. Certain cancer therapies/medications can be present in breast milk and make breastfeeding an unsafe activity.
Also Check: Why Chemo And Radiation For Breast Cancer
I Found A Lump While Breastfeeding My Baby What Should I Do
Its normal to notice changes to your breasts during and after pregnancy. But its still important to be breast aware at this time and get any new lumps or any other changes that are new for you checked.
You may have seen a news story recently about a young woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer after trying to breastfeed her baby son. According to the newspaper, her baby became distressed when she tried to feed him from her right breast.
While her experience may be unusual, it does highlight an issue that many women face that it can be hard to know how your breasts should look and feel when youre pregnant and afterwards.
Does Breastfeeding Really Reduce Your Risk Of Breast Cancer
You probably know that breastfeeding can give your baby a healthy start. But thats not the only health benefit. It also can lower your breast cancer risk. Research shows mothers who breastfeed lower their risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer. And, breastfeeding longer than the recommended six months can provide additional protection, says Lindsey Wohlford, wellness dietitian.
Don’t Miss: What Leads To Breast Cancer
Is Breastfeeding Good For Your Baby
You probably know that breastfeeding can give your baby a healthy start. But thats not the only health benefit. It also can lower your breast cancer risk. Research shows mothers who breastfeed lower their risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer. And, breastfeeding longer than the recommended six months can provide additional protection,
Can I Breastfeed After Breast Cancer
Whether you can breastfeed may depend on the treatment you had, or are having, for breast cancer, though research shows that ultimately support is critical to success .
Some women and birthing parents might have difficulties establishing a full breastmilk supply because of their treatment, for instance. However, with the right support, many go onto have a meaningful breastfeeding relationship with their baby.
No matter how much breastmilk youre able to produce, its important to remember that every single drop of breastmilk is beneficial for your baby .
Equally, there are so many ways to feel close and bond with your baby however you feed them. Your baby will always benefit from and really love skin-to-skin contact with you straight from birth. If you bottle-feed your baby, you can take a paced bottle-feeding approach where your relationship develops with your baby and they lead the way with feeding, as they would with breastfeeding.
If you have a birth plan, it can be helpful to mention that youve had breast surgery in the past. It will help you get support and understanding through your care. And it should also mean you wont need to explain any decisions repeatedly to different healthcare professionals, though you may find you have to remind them.
Also Check: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer
Breastfeeding Helps Protect Your Child From Cancer
Breastfeeding not only reduces your chances for developing cancer, but also your childs. Evidence shows that it can help prevent your child from being overweight or obese later in life, Wohlford says. Being obese puts a person at risk for many cancers. This includes pancreatic, postmenopausal breast, endometrial, esophageal, rectal and kidney cancers.
Breastfeeding also helps strengthen your childs immune system. Your antibodies pass from your milk to your child. This helps lower your childs risks of ear infections, as well as respiratory and digestive system problems. Plus, research indicates the longer a child is breastfed, the lower his or her chances of developing allergies.
Seek a lactation consultant
Despite all the health perks, breastfeeding isnt easy. If youre considering it or having trouble, get help from a lactation consultant or a professional breastfeeding specialist. Most work in hospitals or health programs. You can ask the hospital where you plan to deliver to send a consultant to your room shortly after your baby is born. Your health care provider or childs pediatrician also can help you find one.
Need more help? Use these resources:
Take educational classes
If youre pregnant or plan to become pregnant, educate yourself before your baby arrives. Talk to your doctor about finding a class that will teach you breastfeeding techniques and tips. You also can ask for classes or counseling as a baby shower gift.
Symptoms Of Breast Cancer In Pregnancy
Breast cancer during pregnancy most often manifests as a non-painful thickening or lump, which is sometimes accompanied by a nipple discharge. Leakage of fluid from the nipple during pregnancy can also be a natural occurrence, which makes it difficult for a woman to catch this symptom. Palpation or mammography during pregnancy is also more complicated because of the aforementioned change in breast structure. In addition, mammography poses a risk to the developing fetus as it is a diagnostic technique that uses ionizing radiation .
Recommended Reading: Can Coffee Cause Breast Cancer
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.
Breastfeeding During Cancer Treatment
Caring for a newborn baby can be stressful. So can going through breast cancer treatment. But juggling both at the same time? This invites an entirely new level of anxiety.
Breast cancer occurs in about 1 in 3,000 pregnancies and is the most common type of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, after birth while breastfeeding, or within a year of delivery. The good news is that breast cancer doesnt appear to harm your unborn baby. However, cancer treatment may interfere with your plans to breastfeed afterward.
You May Like: Are There Different Kinds Of Breast Cancer
Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.
Most breast lumps arent cancerous, but its always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also speak to your GP if you notice any of the following:
- a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- discharge from either of your nipples
- a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- a rash on or around your nipple
- a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Breast pain alone isnt a symptom of breast cancer.
Learn more about the symptoms of breast cancer
After examining your breasts, your GP may refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic for further tests. This might include a mammography or a biopsy.
Read Also: Self Examination Of Breast Cancer
A Lump In Your Breast
A lump or mass in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer. Lumps are often hard and painless, although some are painful. However, not all lumps are cancer. Benign breast conditions that can also cause lumps.
Still, its important to have your doctor check out any new lump or mass right away. If it does turn out to be cancer, the sooner its diagnosed the better.
Recommended Reading: Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer The Worst
When To See A Doctor
- doesnt go away after about a week
- comes back in the same place after treatment for a blocked duct
- is firm or hard
- causes dimpling of the skin, also known as peau dorange
Lactation can cause changes in your breasts, which may make noticing symptoms of cancer tricky. Its a good idea to see your doctor if you notice any unusual changes in your breasts.
What Causes Breast Infections
The cause of most breast infections is Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which causes what is commonly known as a staph infection. Streptococcus agalactiae is the second most common cause.
For breastfeeding mothers, a plugged milk duct can cause milk to back up and an infection to begin. Cracked nipples also increase the risk of breast infection. Bacteria from the babys mouth can enter and cause an infection. The bacteria that typically cause infection are also normally found on the skin, even when no infection is taking place. If the bacteria get into the breast tissue, they can multiply quickly and cause painful symptoms.
You can continue to breastfeed even when you have a mastitis infection because the bacteria are not harmful to your baby. This condition usually occurs in the first few weeks of breastfeeding, but it can occur later.
Non-lactational mastitis occurs in women with weakened immune systems, including women who have had lumpectomies with radiation therapy and women with diabetes. Some infection-like symptoms are a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, but this is very rare. Learn more about mastitis.
Subareolar abscesses occur when the glands under the nipple become blocked and an infection develops under the skin. This can form a hard, pus-filled lump that may need to be drained. This type of abscess normally only occurs in non-lactating women, and there are no known risk factors for it.
Symptoms of a breast infection can start suddenly and may include:
Read Also: How Often Is Breast Asymmetry Cancer
Can You Get A Mammogram While Breastfeeding
Getting a mammogram while you are lactating is safe for mom and baby. The x-ray used in a mammogram does not impact the quality or safety of breastmilk, so its not necessary to interrupt breastfeeding or “pump and dump” for a mammogram. Lactating breasts are more dense than non-lactating breasts, which can make reading a mammogram more difficult. Let the radiologist know you are breastfeeding and, if possible, nurse or pump immediately before the test to help empty the breasts.
How To Be Breast Aware As A Breastfeeder
Lumps, bumps and a constantly changing cup size are just part of the breastfeeding experience. While these things can be annoying, they can also make detection of irregular breast changes tricky.
“It can be more difficult when breastfeeding to recognise potentially concerning changes as the breast tissue normally changes,” says Dr Harvey.
That being said however, the usual signs of breast cancer are still what a breastfeeding mum should look for. These include:
- New masses or lumps felt that do not resolve
- Changes in the nipples not resolving such as colour, asymmetry, ulcers.
- Bleeding or abnormal discharge apart from breast milk
- Changes in the skin of the breast such as discolouration, dimpling or redness.
- Increase in the size of glands under the armpit.
Knowing your breasts is key. Yes, you may experience lumpiness after a longer than normal stretch overnight or the occasional blocked duct that feels like you’ve somehow managed to insert a marble under your skin BUT if these don’t resolve or continue to reoccur despite you doing your best to manage them, it’s worth seeing your doctor.
“What is important is if you are concerned, then consult your doctor for a review and examination,” says Dr Harvey. “It is important to be aware of the changes occurring in your body. If concerned the best advice it to present early for a review.”
Read Also: How Aggressive Is Breast Cancer
What Is The Most Common Form Of Infection During Breastfeeding
Mastitis: The most common form of infection that occurs during breastfeeding is mastitis which is an inflammation of breast tissue.The Possible causes are a blocked milk duct or bacteria entering the breast and It usually occurs within the first three months of breast-feeding. The key signs of mastitis are- breast tenderness, swelling,
Will Your Babys Health Suffer When You Dont Breastfeed
Probably not. Many women feel guilty if they cant breastfeed and may worry that their babys health or intellectual development will suffer as a result. But the current research on the effects of breastfeeding is inconclusive. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants be fed only breast milk for the first six months due to the nutritional superiority of breast milk to infant formula. However, one 2014 study of 1,773 sibling pairs one fed breast milk and one fed formula found no significant differences between the breast-fed and bottle-fed babies on any of the 11 measures of health and intellectual competency .Talk with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your babys health while youre undergoing breast cancer treatment. If breastfeeding is going to pose too much risk to your baby, ask your pediatrician to recommend an infant formula. And remember, dont let guilt get in the way of your recovery and being there for your child, now and for many years to come.
You May Like: What Area Of The Breast Is Cancer Usually Found
How Do You Check For Lumps In Your Breasts While Breastfeeding
Women are constantly reminded to check for lumps in their breasts. But this can be tricky for breastfeeding mamas, since lumps can be quite common and totally normal when lactating. Usually lumps in a breastfeeding mom are a full or clogged milk gland/duct — if this is the case, the lump should get smaller and/or resolve after nursing or pumping. Treat the lump with warm moist heat, gentle massage, and effective emptying. It is very rare for a breastfeeding mom to develop breast cancer, but it’s not impossible, so it’s very important to seek care as soon as possible if you notice anything suspicious. Monitor the breast. If the lump persists for more than a week with diligent treatment for a clogged duct, it’s a good idea to contact your health care provider. Other signs that suggest you should contact your health care provider include the lump being “fixed” and/or if the skin around the lump has a puckered/dimpled look, like the skin of an orange.