What are the Common Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer, like all cancers, is the uncontrollable multiplication or growth of cells within the body. Breast cancer, specifically, is the abnormal growth of cells located in breast tissue. This growth usually forms a large grouping known as a tumor that separates from cells growing at a more normal rate. This cancerous cell growth can then invade surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body, known as metastasizing. Cancer cells that metastasize can cause serious and fatal health complications when left untreated. While the vast majority of breast cancer diagnoses occur in women, man can also develop breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis after skin cancer for women in the United States.
It is important to recognize the signs of breast cancer early to increase the chances of effective treatment and survival as much as possible. Unfortunately, breast cancer is often not diagnosed early as symptoms are frequently not manifest or women to not undertake preventative screenings. However, here are a few symptoms to look for, particularly for individuals who have a family history of cancer:
- Thickening in the breast or armpit.
- A change in the size or shape of the breast.
- Changes in the skin of the breast, such as a dimple or the turning inward of the nipple.
- Changes in the nipple such as the scaling of skin.
- A green or bloody discharge of the nipple.
- A change is the color or feel in the skin around the nipple.
It is also important for women to perform self-examinations of their breast as well as to have a yearly mammogram, typically after the age of 40 or 50, depending upon your risk factors. Often the first sign of breast cancer is a hard lump or nodule that is painless but located within the tissue of the breast. If such a lump is discovered, inform your doctor as quickly as possible as the removal of the tumor within a short time frame can greatly increase the chances of curing the cancer.
