Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. According to an estimate 13 out of every 100 women, can expect to develop breast cancer in their entire lifetime. Often there are no outward signs of breast cancer that one can see or feel. If there are outward signs, the commonest early signs include a lump, an area of thickening, or a dimple in the breast. Less common signs include breast swelling and redness or an enlarged underarm lymph node.

But even if someone is having one or more of these indicator signs, it doesn't mean that the she is suffering from the bad disease of breast cancer because most of the breast lumps usually are benign which means not cancerous.

The term “breast cancer” refers to a malignant, means cancerous tumor that develops from bad and not ‘regular good cells’ in the breast. Breast cancer has some common and some less common sites where it can have a growth. Most common area includes milk producing glands or ducts. The milk producing ducts are the tunnels for the flow of milk to the nipple areas. The less common area includes the stromal tissues; these tissues are the fatty, fibrous and plumy tissues of the breast of which the breast is made of.



With the passage of time, the cancer cells due to their invasive nature, invade the surrounding normal part of the breast, after which they can also involve the lymph nodes of underarms. Lymph nodes act as small filters that filter out foreign harmful agents in the body. Once the cancer cells have reached the lymph nodes then they enter a path way which leads to other parts of the body. The staging of cancer is done depending on how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor.
Initially, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. A lump may be too small to cause any unusual changes one can notice. An x-ray of the breast is called a mammogram. Initially a mammogram is done which leads to further testing.

In some cases, however, the early sign of cancer in breasts is a lump or mass or dimple in the breast area that one can feel by touch. This lump can have uneven edges and can be painless and hard in touch. This type of lump is most likely to be a lump because of cancer. However, sometimes cancers lumps can be soft, and round in shape. So it's important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.

According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be a symptom of breast cancer:
-Swelling of all or part of the breast
-Skin irritation or dimpling
-Breast pain
-Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
-Redness, roughness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
-A nipple discharge other than breast milk
-A lump in the underarm area

It is extremely important that a doctor is immediately consulted if any of such signs are noticed and if you're worried that you might have breast cancer.
The above mentioned changes can also be seen in serious conditions that are not cancerous, such as an infection or they may occur due to presence of a cyst. It’s important to get any breast changes checked out promptly by a doctor.



Physical examination of the breast is one way to find breast cancer.
Women of all ages should make it a habit to check their breasts for any signs of breast cancer every month. The checks should be carried out for roundedness, thickness and any type of lumps. The women who check their breasts regularly know the normal feel of their breasts and any change they feel can be checked by the doctor and identify immediately for peace of mind.

• Breasts should be checked about one week after your period.
• The skin of breasts is pressed firmly with the pads of your fingers. Left hand is moved over right breast in a circle. All the surrounding area is checked all over including the armpit.

• Now left breast is checked with the right hand in the same way.

• One should also look at breasts in a mirror to look for any changes in them and how do they look normally.

If there is presence of any lumps, thickenings or other changes, the doctor is informed right away. Breast cancer may be treated if it is found early and with the help of right treatment.

Prevention is always better than cure and in case of breast cancer, knowing the indicator signs of breast cancer are very important. Generally women look for lumps as a warning sign of breast cancer but it is important to understand that there are many other signs and symptoms which can refer the presence of this disease. In many cases presence of a rash and change of skin color to redness and thick skin also indicate towards breast cancer and should be checked by a doctor. The unusual discharge of milk from breasts for women who do not breast feed is also a sign of breast cancer.

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