11 Early Signs Of Breast Cancer One Should Know

Every year, thousands of women are diagnosed with breast cancer which has become a common deadly health issue for women. Till yet, it is not exactly known why breast cancer develops or what factors causes this deadly ailment to occur in women mostly. The highest rate of invasive breast cancer is found in women of 55 and older. However, breast cancer could be seen in young girls, or women of 30s-40s which has a very common symptom that is finding a lump in your breast or collarbone or armpit. But, besides this, there are other symptoms to look for the detection of breast cancer.

Here are the early signs of Breast Cancer one should know.

1. Breast pain

A sharp pain in your breast with some tenderness could be worse and scary. However, the breast pain is rarely the first noticeable sign of breast cancer and the early stage of breast cancer shows no such clear symptoms. Breast pain could occur due to other reasons too like breast cysts, hormonal fluctuation due to menstruation, a side effect of birth control pills or infertility treatments, uncomfortable bra etc. But mild electric sensation or a throbbing ache, or discomforting sharp stabbing ache in the breast or chest area could be serious and needs immediate medical attention.

2. Breast lumps

Self checking for breast, carefully apply pressures to the breasts and surrounding tissues with your fingers. Both benign (harmless) and malignant (cancerous) breast lumps sometimes develop under the armpit, in the collarbone, near the lymph nodes, and around the nipples, as rigid, hard and tender lumps that don’t move when you press against them. Any tenderness may be because of swollen tissues. This is the most common early sign of breast cancer one should know.

3. Swollen breasts

Inflammation of the breast tissues and areas around the breast can occur if there is a breast tumour. Typically a sign of inflammatory breast cancer swelling is seen with red, patchy, hot skin that feels extremely tender to the touch or caress. If there is no lump, then swollen breast is not a good sign. Consult your doctor get some cancer detection tests done.

4. Red itchy breasts

A common symptom of inflammatory breast cancer, a rash-less severe itch with bumpy orange peel texture in and around your breasts can indicate an underlying issue more severe than dermatitis. The itchy sensation is often followed by nipple discharge and breast tissue that appears thicker or changed in texture. The itchy feeling makes you bound to scratch it and no ointments could give you relief. So don’t just settle for a prescription ointment, rather ask your doctor to get breast cancer test right away.

5. Breast size

Usually, every woman has breasts of little different size, but if one of your breast enlarges significantly in less period of time, that may an early sign of breast cancer. A drastic change in the size of your breast is something to be concerned about.

6. Nipple’s discharge

Breast cancer usually develops in milk ducts around the nipple which can show itself in a milky, watery or blood tinged discharge which leaves behind a scaly crust on the nipples. And if you are not breastfeeding, then any kind of discharge from your breast could be malignant and abnormal.

7. Neck and back pain

Back, shoulders and stiff necks aren’t always normal. And breast cancer often spread to the spine, back, or shoulders causing an achy pain in these areas. If back, neck, and shoulder pain persist, even after using ointment, getting rest, stretching, or massage, consult your doctor for a breast cancer screening.

8. Breast tenderness

Another early sign of breast cancer is breast tenderness. Breast tumours often cause pain and tenderness and it’s more common for a lump to develop in small, seed-like structure along the breast tissue, which may cause the breasts to be tender when you’re lying down, being caressed by your partner, or if a lump under your armpit you could feel pain while moving hands or feeling friction from your bra.

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9. Changes in nipples appearance

An underlying breast tumour (i.e., a tumour that develops underneath the nipple region) can also cause your nipples to change in appearance as well. You or your partner may notice your nipple has become inverted, flat, indented, or asymmetrical in shape or your nipples may also change in size for no reason (i.e., you’re not breastfeeding) which is serious call for breast screening.

10. Dimpled or red breast tissue

Thickening of the skin and tissues occurs at the earliest stages and is the early sign of breast cancer development. The skin over the breast may become red or dimpled or even seem to pitted similar to the skin of orange.

11. Visible veins on breast

The veins and nerves which are attached the mammary glands will become more distinct and visible at the earlier stage of breast cancer which may not be associated with pain or any kind of tenderness but still needs a serious medical attention.

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