SYMPTOMS OF BREAST CANCER
There are several symptoms of breast cancer and more women need to be aware of these so that they can make an early diagnosis. Some of the symptoms of breast cancer are.
Although widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms, some breast cancers are not found by mammograms, either because the test was not done or because even under ideals conditions mammograms do not find every breast cancer.
Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause a lump or swelling , even before the original tumor in the breast tissue is large enough to the felt. Swollen lymph nodes should also be reported to your doctor.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A mass that is painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. For this reason, it is important that new mass, lumps, or breast changes is checked by a health care professional with experience in diagnosing breast diseases.
- Increasing swellings or lumps seen in the breast or in the armpit are a symptom. Though this may also be due to hormonal changes, it is better to get a check up to find out.
- Changes in the size and shape of the mature breast, especially if it is prominently noticed in one breast may be a concerning symptom.
- Fluid, not milk leakages from one nipple, especially in old women is a cause of concern.
- Noticeable changes occurring in the size and shape of the nipple or not easily returning to its normal shape can be a symptom of breast cancer.
Symptoms can be caused by cancer or by a number of less serious conditions. Early diagnosis is especially important for breast cancer because the disease responds best to treatment before it has spread. The earlier breast cancer is found and treated, the better a woman's chance is for complete recovery.
TYPES OF BREAST CANCER
There are two types of breast cancer to be found in a woman. These types of breast cancer are named after the parts of the breast in which they start.
- Ductal carcinoma breast cancer- Starts in the cells which line the breast's ducts, beneath the nipple and areola. The ducts supply milk to the nipple. Between 85% and 90% of all breast cancers are ductal. If the cancer is DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), it is well contained, not invasive, and can be very successfully treated. Usually removed during a lumpectomy, if the tumor margins are clear of cancer, follow-up treatment may include radiation, if ductal cancer has broken into nearby breast tissue (invasive cancer) then mastectomy may be needed, and your doctor my also recommend chemotherapy.
- Lobular carcinoma breast cancer - begins in the lobs, or glands which produce milk in the breast. The lobes are located deeper inside the breast, under the ducts. About 8% of breast cancers are lobular. if the cancer is LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) that means the cancer is limited within the lobe and has not spread. It may be removed during a lumpectomy, if the tumor margins are clear of cancer, follow-up treatment may include radiation. If lobular cancer has spread into nearby breast tissues (invasive cancer) then a mastectomy may be needed, and your doctor may also recommend chemotherapy.
One of the rarest forms of breast cancer is names for its appearance.
- Inflammatory breast cancer - is the lest common, but most aggressive of breast cancer, taking the form of sheets or nest, instead of lumps. It can start in the soft tissues of the breast, just under the skin, or it can appear in the skin. Unlike ductal and lobular cancers, it is treated first with chemotherapy and then surgery. When caught early, inflammatory breast cancer can be a manageable disease, and survival rates are increasing.
Lease common is a cancer of the nipple, named for Sir James Paget, who first noticed the relationship between changes in the nipple and the underlying breast cancer.
- Paget's disease of the nipple/areola often looks like a skin rash, or rough skin. It resembles eczema, and can be itchy. The itching and scabs (if scratched) are signs that cancer may be under the surface of the skin, and is breaking through. Paget's is usually teated with a mastectomy, because the cancer has by then invaded the nipple, areola and the milk ducts.
The information you find on our site is for education only it does not take the place of you seeking medical help from a license professional if you have any signs of breast cancer or any other medical issues.