Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any time an abnormality is discovered, it should be investigated by a healthcare professional.
Most people who have breast cancer symptoms and signs will initially notice only one or two, and the presence of these symptoms and signs do not automatically mean that you have breast cancer.
By performing monthly breast self-exams, you will be able to more easily identify any changes in your breast. Be sure to talk to your healthcare professional if you notice anything unusual.
A Change In How The Breast Or Nipple Feels
- Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
- A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast (some describe this as similar to an orange peel’s texture)
- A lump in the breast (It’s important to remember that all lumps should be investigated by a healthcare professional, but not all lumps are cancerous.)
A Change In The Breast Or Nipple Appearance
- Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling anywhere on the breast
- Unexplained swelling of the breast (especially if on one side only)
- Unexplained shrinkage of the breast (especially if on one side only)
- Recent asymmetry of the breasts (Although it is common for women to have one breast that is slightly larger than the other, if the onset of asymmetry is recent, it should be checked.)
- Nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted
- Skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange
Any Nipple Discharge—Particularly Clear Discharge Or Bloody Discharge
Not all nipple discharges are concerning. Pathological nipple discharge is usually spontaneous, from one breast, and clear or bloody in color. Causes may be an intraductal papilloma (benign growth inside the milk duct), duct ectasia ( dilatation of the milk duct), mastitis, or breast cancer.
Other more frequent caused of nipple discharge , usually from both nipples, include pregnancy or lactation, breast compression, endocrine disorders or medications.
It is also important to note that a milky discharge that is present when a woman is not breastfeeding should be checked by her doctor, although it is not linked with breast cancer.
Let your doctor know about any nipple discharge, clear, bloody or milky.
A lump in the axilla
A lump or a swelling in the axilla (armpit) could be a sign of breast cancer. This is usually due to the spread of cancer from the breast to the lymph nodes in the axilla. It can happen even if you can not feel any lump in the breast.
Lymph nodes can get enlarges for other reasons as well, like infection in the breast, a cut on your arm, or infection of the hair follicles in the arm pit.
If you notice a lump in the armpit, you should tell your healthcare provider so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated.
