Breast Cancer Signs and Signals
In a perfect world, we'd get prior warning when breast cancer was about to occur. An alarm would sound, a red flag would wave or we'd receive a letter in the mail. But the real world, unfortunately, isn't quite so thoughtful.
There are no outward symptoms related to early breast cancer. There are no warnings, and no pain. The only way to detect breast cancer in the preliminary stage is by finding an abnormality or a lump. Mostly this happens through breast self-examinations, or as a result of a yearly mammogram.
Of course, most breast lumps are not cancerous. But it is still imperative to immediately have the lump examined by a doctor.
For some women, breast cancer initially presents as a bump under the arm or above the collarbone that doesn't go away. As the disease progresses, other symptoms will appear such as nipple inversion or discharge, or changes to the skin and surface of the breast.
Rarely will a discharge be a symptom of cancer, and in fact is quite common. However, if you notice blood in the discharge, or if it only occurs in one breast, then see a doctor immediately. Inversion of nipples is also quite common, but if it occurs suddenly, check with your doctor.
Swelling or redness in the breast may be an indication of an infection present in the breast tissue. Any infections, regardless of the type or cause, should be treated promptly. See your doctor right away if you notice redness, swelling or severe pain in your breast, in your armpit, or under your shoulder.
Where breast cancer is present, changes may occur to the skin such as redness, puckering and changes to texture. There are some skin diseases that may cause a similar effect, however it's important to have a professional consultation to rule out any possibility of cancer.
Breast cancer can take months or even years to develop. Once diagnosed, it's crucial to begin treatment immediately, as it is much more difficult to treat cancer once it has begun to spread throughout the body in what is called metastastic spread.
The earliest signs of breast cancer can be found with a test called a mammogram. This electronic scan of the breast tissue should be performed once per year, particularly for women over 40. Should an abnormality be found on a mammogram, don't panic. Make an appointment with your health care provider immediately for further evaluation, and to give you peace of mind.
Ultrasolography and physical examinations are the other two methods for detecting abnormalities. Physical exams should include visual inspection as well as gentle physical pressure or palpitation. Each exam will also check the collarbone area and the armpits. You can ask your health care provider how to do this yourself, and there are books and videos widely available to help. Or your provider can do it for you, by palpating for a lump or thickening of the skin in the breast area. Finally, the most definitive method for diagnosis is to examine a small number of breast cells directly. A biopsy can remove a tiny piece of the lump and a specialist will examine it in a laboratory.
All women must be made aware of the most common breast cancer symptoms:
* A lump in the breast, above the collarbone or under the arm, that stays for longer than a week
* Discharge from the nipple
* Inversion of the nipple or other changes to the nipple
* Skin surface changes on the breast
During your regular self-examinations, if you find any of these symptoms, don't take a chance, but see your doctor as soon as you can to determine if what you have found requires treatment.
Author Mabel Dugmore writes for some of today's hottest web sites, on woman health and new products topics.
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