Breast Cancer Symptoms And What You Need To Know

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer amongst North American females (excluding skin cancers). In many cases, women do not even realize that breast cancer has developed until they find a small lump or one is found during a routine breast exam. Initially, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms, however, there are some revealing symptoms that patients need to be aware of. The following various symptoms may be an indication of breast cancer.

Nipple Discharge

There are many reasons as to why your nipple may be excreting discharge and in most cases, they are non-cancerous. When you experience discharge from one nipple, in particular, this may be a sign of breast cancer.

If you suddenly develop nipple discharge, see a physician immediately, especially if it contains blood and appears without squeezing the area. Be especially cautious of this and contact your doctor right away. You don't want it to turn into a serious problem if it's not checked immediately.

Continue reading to discover another common symptom of breast cancer.

A Lump On The Breast Or Underarm Area

The most common symptom is a new lump, either on your breast or within your underarm area. Generally, these lumps will be painless and hard. If the edges are irregular, it can be a clear indication that the lump is cancerous. With that being said, cancerous lumps may also be soft, tender, and rounded. In some cases, breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes underneath the arm or around the collarbone, resulting in a lump or sudden swelling in these areas. Although approximately ninety percent of breast lumps amongst women between the ages of twenty and fifty are benign, if you are concerned, you should have any lump that appears unexpectedly checked by a doctor immediately. Common causes of a benign breast lump include a breast infection, fibrocystic breast disease (lumpy breasts), fibroadenoma (noncancerous tumors), and fat necrosis (damaged tissue).

Next, find out how the changes in your nipple shape can be an early sign of breast cancer.

Changes In Nipple Shape

If your nipple suddenly becomes inverted, this may be a sign of breast cancer. An inverted nipple is when the nipple suddenly begins to point inward, not outward as they naturally are supposed to. When cancer is the cause, the whole nipple tends to be pulled in. Most commonly, this will occur in one breast rather than both. Breast cancer can also morph your nipples into an irregular shape.

Nipple inversion tends to happen due to inflammation or scarring of the tissue behind the nipple, which can be caused by numerous conditions, not just cancer. In the case of breast cancer, nipple retraction occurs when the tumor attacks the ducts behind the nipple, thus pulling it in.

Keep reading to find out how a simple rash can be an early indicator of breast cancer.

Unexplainable Swelling, Redness, Or Rash

If you have developed a rash or are experiencing unexplained itching and swelling, this may be a sign of inflammation. Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form, but its symptoms often appear like a rash or skin irritation due to the cancer cells interfering with the lymph vessels in the skin. If you have been using an ointment or cream without any results, this could be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Essentially, the symptoms to be aware of are breast swelling, thickening of the skin, redness, pain, and tenderness, and of course, itching on and around the breast.

Basically, the signs appear to resemble an infection. Some women also experience swelling around their collarbone and underneath the arms - in this case, cancer has more than likely spread to the lymph nodes, as previously mentioned.

Continue reading to learn why thickening of the skin around the breast can be a symptom of cancer.

Thickening Skin

If the skin on your breast begins to thicken, feeling almost like ‘orange peel,’ have it checked immediately.Small ridges or indents that also looks like an 'orange peel'is considered thickening of the skin as well. Thickening breast skin is often caused by mastitis, which is a breast infection that commonly occurs amongst women who are breastfeeding.

For women who take antibiotics and do not experience improvements, it could be an indication of inflammatory breast cancer. Put your mind at ease and see a physician to have your breasts examined for cancer or another condition.

Next, find out why breast pain is another common and clear sign of breast cancer.

Breast Pain

Although the breasts may hurt due to PMS, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or hormonal changes, unusual or persistent breast pain can indicate that a patient may have breast cancer. Other causes of breast pain include birth control and medications, infertility treatments, breast cysts, stress, and an improperly fitted bra. The majority of breast cancers do not cause any pain, but some do. The most common cause of breast pain is a woman’s menstrual cycle, as well as some other benign breast conditions.

Breast pain in relation to cancer can occur due to inflammation and cancerous cells interfering with the lobules or lymph nodes, as well as due to lumps or masses underneath the skin. If you experience breast pain that is both severe and persistent, it is recommended that you have your breasts examined. Remember to listen to your body and do not just pass it off as PMS or something else. If you are concerned, go for a mammogram as soon as possible.

Skin Puckering

If you notice that the skin on your breasts is puckering or dimpling, it’s important to make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible. Be mindful of skin dimpling, as it may be very subtle. When breast skin dimples, it may indicate a tumor. Cancer cells block the lymph channels, resulting in a build-up of fluid in the breast itself. This puckering is generally accompanied by significant swelling, which can also lead to itchiness and redness of the skin.

Continue reading to learn why one breast may appear larger than the other.

Enlargement Of One Breast

In addition to redness and swelling, quite a few women may experience the enlargement of one breast. Some women may experience the enlargement of one breast due to breastfeeding, pregnancy, or hormonal changes, but it can also happen when a woman has breast cancer. Specifically, inflammatory breast cancer is rare, but an aggressive form that affects one to five percent of all breast cancers. Inflammatory breast cancer causes the cancerous cells to block the lymph nodes near the breasts, so the lymph vessels in the breast can not properly drain. Instead of forming a tumor, this cancer causes the breasts to swell, and in some cases, one breast may become more inflamed and swollen than the other if the cancer is specifically in one breast.

Next, reveal another common symptom that most patients will experience.

Visible Veins On The Breast

Similar to swollen breasts or the enlargement of just one, visible veins on the breast can be caused by inflammatory breast cancer, a rare form of this condition. This type of breast typically has visible symptoms on the outside of the skin on the breast, rather than just a lump or mass underneath the skin. The breast’s veins become inflamed due to cancer and will be the most visible near the location of these skin changes or where the cancer is located. However, visible veins on the breast can also be caused by weight gain, pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast surgery, and other benign conditions.

Keep reading to learn about another common symptom that many cancer patients experience.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Like most conditions that are cancerous or benign, your body may experience sudden or unexpected weight loss or weight gain as it goes through drastic changes. When it comes to breast cancer or any cancer in general, a patient will often experience sudden weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of ten pounds or more is often the first sign of cancer, especially if the patient is not actively trying to lose weight or has not changed their eating habits or exercise regime. For instance, with metastatic breast cancer, a patient can lose weight due to the cancer pushing inside on the abdomen walls, making it incredibly difficult for a patient to keep down solid foods.

Next, reveal the differences between breast cancer and a breast cyst.

Breast Cysts

Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs inside of the breast, which is usually benign or noncancerous. A woman can have one or numerous breast cysts, and they can occur in one or both breasts. Breast cysts are round or oval lumps with distinct edges and can feel like a grape, a water-filled balloon, or firm. Similar to breast cancer symptoms, women who have a breast cyst can experience nipple discharge, breast pain or tenderness, and a smooth lump in or around the breast. The major difference between a breast cyst and cancer is that a cyst can easily be treated and is noncancerous.

Continue reading to learn about the rare symtpoms of specific types of breast cancer and the other symptoms that accompany this disease.

Rare Symptoms To Look Out For

The majority of the different types of cancers have all similar symptoms; however, specific and rare cancers can have differing symptoms. For instance, the most common symptom of ductal carcinoma is a firm or hard lump that feels significantly different from the rest of the breast that can feel tender but not painful. Lobular carcinoma often does not form a lump, but rather the tissue in the breast feels thicker and harder. Other symptoms of both of these cancers include a lump in the armpit, changes in size and shape of the breast and nipple, and nipple discharge.

Late signs and symptoms occur as cancer continues to grow and spread to other parts of the body, including other organs. Late symptoms of breast cancer include bone pain, weight loss, nausea, loss of appetite, jaundice, shortness of breath, coughing, headaches, double vision, and muscle weakness.

Keep reading to uncover how men are affected by breast cancer (yes, they can get it too!).

Men & Breast Cancer

Although it is rare, men can also develop breast cancer at any age, although it is commonly seen in older men. Breast cancer is rarer in males because their breast cells are less developed than women’s. But, just like women, men also have breast tissue, and these cells can also develop cancerous cells.

The most common symptoms of breast cancer that a male can experience is a lump in the breast tissue, thickening of the breast tissue, nipple discharge, redness or scaling of the nipple, an inverted nipple, unusual redness, swelling, itchiness, or rash on the breast. Unfortunately, most men do not consider that they can develop breast cancer, therefore they do not regularly check their breast tissue for signs of lumps, resulting in male breast cancer being diagnosed much later.

Keep reading to find out how breast cancer is diagnosed.

Diagnosing Breast Cancer

There are a variety of ways a patient can be diagnosed with breast cancer. Diagnosing breast cancer can be done with a physical exam, mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, biopsy, or by reviewing a patient’s medical history. A physical examination is when a doctor examines the patient’s breasts, the skin on their breasts, and their nipples to check for discharge. A doctor may also feel the breasts and armpits for any lumps. A classic diagnosing technique is a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast, that can help distinguish between a benign and malignant mass.

An ultrasound uses ultrasonic sound waves to produce an image of the breast tissue, while an MRI scan is used in conjunction with other tests that are also used to examine the patient’s breast tissue. A biopsy is performed on a lump to determine if it is cancerous or not and to also test the cells of the breast tissue. Finally, a doctor will ask a patient about their health history and family medical history to see if there is a risk of breast cancer developing. Sometimes breast cancer can be caused by genetics, therefore it is imperative for a patient to let their doctor know if there is a family history of it.

Continue reading to discover the various types of breast cancer.

Types Of Breast Cancer

When it comes to breast cancer, there are two categories: noninvasive and invasive. Noninvasive (in situ) breast cancer is cancer that has not spread from the original tissue and is considered stage zero. Invasive (infiltrating) breast cancer is cancer that has spread to the surrounding tissues in the breast or organs and is considered stageone through four. The tissue affected determines the type of cancer it is.

Ductal carcinoma is cancer that forms in the lining of the milk ducts and is the most common type of breast cancer. Lobular carcinoma is cancer in the lobules of the breast and where milk is produced. Sarcoma is a form of cancer that affects the breast’s connective tissue and is a rarer type. Other types of cancer include inflammatory breast cancer, molecular subtypes, Paget’s disease of the nipple, phyllodes tumors of the breast, and metastatic breast cancer.

Finally, discover the signs to look out for if the breast cancer returns.

Signs Of Recurrence

Despite initially treating and successful overcoming breast cancer, in some instances, breast cancer can return. This is referred to as recurrence, and it occurs when a small number of cells evade initial treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy. Signs of a recurrence in the same place as the initial breast cancer are incredibly similar as the first time it occurred and include a new breast lump, changes to the nipple, redness, and swelling, and skin thickening near the mastectomy scar or on the skin in general.

If recurrence comes back regionally, meaning cancer has returned to the lymph nodes or close to the original location. These signs might be slightly different and include lumps in the lymph nodes near the collarbone, chest or breast pain, pain or loss of sensation in the arm or shoulder, and swelling in the arm or on the same side as the original location of the breast cancer. If the patient has had a mastectomy or other surgical procedures related to their cancer, they might get lumps or bumps caused by scar tissue in the reconstructed breast.