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.
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
- Skin sores
- 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
- A small, hard cyst
How To Do A Breast Self
Once youve done a self-exam while standing, youre not quite done yet. Lay down for the final steps:
- Lay down. Put your head on a pillow and note any changes to the skin on your breasts, or size.
- Feel your breasts. Using the same technique with your arm up and hand behind your head, feel your breasts with your opposite hand, and use the circular or up-and-down method.
- Check the surrounding areas. It’s important to feel your underarm area as well as the hard area of your ribcage on your upper chest and sides.
Report any changes in your breasts to your doctor. Of course, its hard not to worry when you find something, but know that:
- Finding a lump or any other change doesnt always mean its cancer
- Its also important to know that performing a breast self-exam doesnt replace getting regular mammograms or getting your annual exams by your doctor
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What Are The Five Warning Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
The majority of breast cancer patients first seek diagnosis because of a lump on the breast. This is one of the five warning signs of breast cancer:
Breast lump: A hard, fixed mass or lump felt anywhere in the breast.
Changes to the nipple and the surrounding area:;Changes in the nipple area, nipple retraction and inverted nipple are common warning signs of breast cancer. Bloody discharge from the nipple is another warning sign.;
Change in color and/or thickening of skin on the breast:;Any dimpling or thickening of breast skin that resembles an orange rind is a warning sign of breast cancer. If the breast skin changes color, typically to a pink or reddish hue that covers more than half the breast that may also be a warning sign.
A non-healing sore anywhere on the breast, including the nipple:;A red, scaly, flaky nipple, and any persistent skin change, including blood or fluid from the nipple with non-healing sore, may be a warning sign of breast cancer;
Swelling of axillary lymph nodes :;Many patients who end up diagnosed with breast cancer have swelling of lymph nodes in the armpit, they may or may not have changes in the structure of the breast, but they come in for a consult because they feel lump under their arm. This may mean that cancer from the breast has traveled to the;lymph nodes, and now there is lymph node invasion.;
What Are Therapies For Her2
Your health care team needs to evaluate all therapy and provide guidance in response to all test results available and the specific circumstances of your cancer.
There are targeted therapies for HER2-positive breast cancers; a number of drugs are available to target this protein:
- Trastuzumab : a monoclonal antibody given by itself or with chemotherapy to treat HER2-positive breast cancers
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What Do Lumps In My Breast Mean
Many conditions can cause lumps in the breast, including cancer. But most breast lumps are caused by other medical conditions. The two most common causes of breast lumps are fibrocystic breast condition and cysts. Fibrocystic condition causes noncancerous changes in the breast that can make them lumpy, tender, and sore. Cysts are small fluid-filled sacs that can develop in the breast.
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Specific Signs Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
This is a rare but aggressive type of cancer that can appear differently to other types.
- inversion of the nipple
- swollen lymph nodes in the collarbone or underarm area
Inflammatory breast cancer tends to occur at a younger age than other types of cancer. Doctors sometimes misdiagnose it because it can resemble an infection, trauma, or another problem.
The same warning signs that occur with cancer can also signify other benign conditions. It is therefore important to know how to recognize which signs might indicate the presence of cancer and which do not.
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How Do Tamoxifen Raloxifene Anastrozole And Exemestane Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer
If you are at increased risk for developing breast cancer, four medications tamoxifen , raloxifene , anastrozole , and exemestane may help reduce your risk of developing this disease. These medications act only to reduce the risk of a specific type of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. This type of breast cancer accounts for about two-thirds of all breast cancers.
Tamoxifen and raloxifene are in a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators . These drugs work by blocking the effects of estrogen in breast tissue by attaching to estrogen receptors in breast cells. Because SERMs bind to receptors, estrogen is blocked from binding. Estrogen is the fuel that makes most breast cancer cells grow. Blocking estrogen prevents estrogen from triggering the development of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Anastrozole and exemestane are in a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors . These drugs work by blocking the production of estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors do this by blocking the activity of an enzyme called aromatase, which is needed to make estrogen.
The Following Are Signs For Which Women Should Be On The Lookout:
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Breast Examination After Treatment For Breast Cancer
After surgery
The incision line may be thick, raised, red and possibly tender for several months after surgery. Remember to examine the entire incision line.
If there is redness in areas away from the scar, contact your physician. It is not unusual to experience brief discomforts and sensations in the breast or nipple area .
At first, you may not know how to interpret what you feel, but soon you will become familiar with what is now normal for you.
After breast reconstruction
Following breast reconstruction, breast examination for the reconstructed breast is done exactly the same way as for the natural breast. If an implant was used for the reconstruction, press firmly inward at the edges of the implant to feel the ribs beneath. If your own tissue was used for the reconstruction, understand that you may feel some numbness and tightness in your breast. In time, some feeling in your breasts may return.
After radiation therapy
After radiation therapy, you may notice some changes in the breast tissue. The breast may look red or sunburned and may become irritated or inflamed. Once therapy is stopped, the redness will disappear and the breast will become less inflamed or irritated. At times, the skin can become more inflamed for a few days after treatment and then gradually improve after a few weeks. The pores in the skin over the breast also may become larger than usual.
What to do
Risk Factors For Breast Cancer
As with any other type of cancer, breast cancer also has its associated risks. However, possessing risk factors does not imply that you will develop breast cancer. Some women may still get breast cancer even though they do not fall under any of the risk categories. Having a risk factor simply means that you have a higher chance of developing breast cancer in your lifetime.
Some of these risk factors include:
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Types Of Breast Cancer
There are various types of breast cancer, and they can be categorised into two main types: Invasive and non-invasive .
For invasive cancers, the cancerous cells have the ability to spread to adjacent breast tissue and other organs, whereas for non-invasive cancers, the cells do not have this ability.
Some of the most common types of breast cancer include:
Common Breast Cancer Symptoms
The most common signs of breast cancer are new lumps in the breast. These are usually painless, hard masses. It is also possible for breast cancer tumors to be tender, soft, round, jagged, or painful. Because these lumps can take so many different forms, it is important to get any new lump checked out by your doctor.
Other common breast cancer symptoms include swelling, skin dimpling, pain in the breast or nipple, nipple inversion, irregular nipple discharge, swollen lymph nodes, and dry, red, flaky, or thickened skin on the breast or nipple. While these signs do not always point to cancer, you should still report them to your doctor.
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Breast Cancer Signs And Symptoms
Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is an important part of 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 be aware of changes in your breasts and to know the signs;and symptoms of breast cancer.
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;tender, soft, or round. They can even be painful. For this reason, it’s;important to have any new breast mass, lump, or breast change checked by an experienced;health care professional.
Other;possible symptoms of breast cancer include:
- Swelling of all or part of a breast
- Skin dimpling
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking or thickened
- Nipple discharge
- Swollen lymph nodes
Although any of these symptoms can be caused by things;other than breast cancer, if you have them, they should be reported to a health;care professional so the cause can be found.
Remember that knowing what to look for does not take the place of having regular mammograms and other screening tests. Screening tests can help find breast cancer early, before any symptoms appear. Finding breast cancer early gives you a better chance of successful treatment.
What Happens After The Local Breast Cancer Treatment
Following local breast cancer treatment, the treatment team will determine the likelihood that the cancer will recur outside the breast. This team usually includes a medical oncologist, a specialist trained in using medicines to treat breast cancer. The medical oncologist, who works with the surgeon, may advise the use of the drugs like tamoxifen or anastrozole or possibly chemotherapy. These treatments are used in addition to, but not in place of, local breast cancer treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy.
After treatment for breast cancer, it is especially important for a woman to continue to do a monthly breast examination. Regular examinations will help you detect local recurrences. Early signs of recurrence can be noted in the incision area itself, the opposite breast, the axilla , or supraclavicular region .
Maintaining your follow-up schedule with your physician is also necessary so problems can be detected when treatment can be most effective. Your health care provider will also be able to answer any questions you may have about breast self-examination after the following procedures.
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Early Warning Signs Of Breast Cancer Every Woman Should Know
Breast cancer is one of the most common life-threatening disease that affects 1 in 8 American women. Every woman should do regular screenings and mammograms to detect abnormal cells in early stages to increase the chance of survival. Everything can be treated if its found in an early stage.
Statistics show that more than 40.000 women and 460 men in the U.S. has died from breast cancer in 2013. Yes, even men are not safe and can get breast cancer! Breast cancer is the primary cause of death in Hispanic women and the second most common cause of death among Asian and Caucasian women.
There are early signs of breast cancer that indicate that something is wrong and every woman should know them! Early detection is key to recovery and surviving this devastating disease! If you come from a family that has history with breast cancer, make sure you make regular tests!
Here are 5 early signs of breast cancer that every woman should know:
Does Breast Cancer Affect Women Of All Races Equally
All women, especially as they age, are at some risk for developing breast cancer. The risks for breast cancer in general arent evenly spread among ethnic groups, and the risk varies among ethnic groups for different types of breast cancer. Breast cancer mortality rates in the United States have declined by 40% since 1989, but disparities persist and are widening between non-Hispanic Black women and non-Hispanic white women.
Statistics show that, overall, non-Hispanic white women have a slightly higher chance of developing breast cancer than women of any other race/ethnicity. The incidence rate for non-Hispanic Black women is almost as high.
Non-Hispanic Black women in the U.S. have a 39% higher risk of dying from breast cancer at any age. They are twice as likely to get triple-negative breast cancer as white women. This type of cancer is especially aggressive and difficult to treat. However, it’s really among women with hormone positive disease where Black women have worse clinical outcomes despite comparable systemic therapy. Non-Hispanic Black women are less likely to receive standard treatments. Additionally, there is increasing data on discontinuation of adjuvant hormonal therapy by those who are poor and underinsured.
In women under the age of 45, breast cancer is found more often in non-Hispanic Black women than in non-Hispanic white women.
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Early Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
Women who experience discomfort in the breast at some point in life may start wondering: What are the early signs of breast cancer? How to notice the disease on time? Is nipple pain a sign of breast cancer?
A malignant tumor in the breast can provoke changes in skin cells. It leads to soreness, tenderness, and discomfort in the chest area. Although breast cancer is often painless, it is crucial not to ignore any signs or symptoms that may be caused by the condition. Some patients describe the pain as a burning sensation in the nipples or breasts.
Modern healthcare emphasizes seven warning signs of breast cancer in women that may appear in the early stages of the disease. Noticing even one of the following symptoms is a sufficient reason to seek medical attention without any delay:
There is no need to panic if you have detected any changes in your chest. To avoid unnecessary stress, it is vital to keep in mind that the presence of the above symptoms can also be due to less severe conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or a cyst. Age-related changes, fluctuations in hormone levels, and other factors can also lead to adjustments in the breast area structure.