The Breast Cancer Symptoms: Eight Signs You May Not Know About (Yet)
For many, it is a lump in the breast that is the first symptom of breast cancer. Nevertheless, the symptoms of breast cancer can vary widely – from lumps to some less noticeable signs such as changes in the skin. The discovery of breast cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that it is cancer. However, discussing the symptoms with your doctor as soon as possible is vital.[2]
It is important to detect and treat breast cancer early. This may offer the best possible cure/management for women with early breast cancer. With breast cancer that has already spread to other organs, early detection of the disease enables early consideration and preparation for a personalized treatment strategy that can potentially & significantly improve patient outcomes. Time is critical when it comes to a breast cancer diagnosis. Know the breast cancer signs, and respond early.[1]
1. Puckering
This refers to the changes in the skin texture on or around your breast that could suggest a possibility of a lump inside the breast. This shortens the ligaments (fibrous tissue) in the breast, pulling the tissue and skin inwards, resulting in a puckered or dented look.
2. Tissue thickening in the breast
This might indicate a lump in the cells within the milk-secreting glandular lobules or it may serve as another indication that the tiny channels in the breast, called lymph vessels (which help to get rid of the body’s waste products) have been blocked.
3. Dimpling
This refers to the changes in the skin texture on or around the breast: Dimpling may suggest that the tiny channels in the breast, called lymph vessels which help to get rid of waste products from the body, have become blocked. It causes the breast to become inflamed and swollen, and tiny dimples, like orange peel, grow in a large area of the skin. This is in some cases is an indicator of a kind of breast cancer also known as inflammatory breast cancer.
4. Rash/redness on the nipple or surrounding area
That is a relatively rare breast cancer symptom. It is linked in a small number of cases to a disease called ‘Paget’s disease’ that is associated with breast cancer,. Paget’s disease causes an eczema-like itchy red rash on the nipple or surrounding area, although its origin remains unknown.
5. Visible breast veins.
Visible veins may indicate a blockage in a blood vessel that may result from a lump or increased blood flow to the breast, a symptom that may follow tumor growth.
6. Secretion of unusual discharge
Secretion of pus/blood could suggest the existence of cancer cells lining the ducts (small tubes that carry milk), behind the nipple.
7. Changes in the nipple’s position or form
Developing an inverted nipple (when you were not already born with one) that cannot be drawn out may indicate the existence of a lump that may be pulling the nipple behind. There are times when the position/shape of the nipple is altered during ovulation or other parts of the menstrual cycle, but it is best to discuss this symptom with a doctor at the earliest.
8. Swelling in the armpit.
This could suggest a lump in the lymph glands under the arms (which help to get rid of the body’s waste products). A lump under the arm can sometimes become more visible than in the breast. These usually feel like small, firm, swollen lumps.
Breast self-examination
Examining your breasts regularly, knowing the symptoms of breast cancer and talking to your doctor as soon as possible is crucial if you notice something that is not normal for you. This is because early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment increases the likelihood of battling the disease.
References:
- http://applications.emro.who.int/dsaf/dsa701.pdf
- https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8577.00.pdf