Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self Examination
Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Breast Cancer Initial Signs
Like most cancers, early detection increases the changes of survival in breast cancer. During the early stages, the tumor is small and most likely in one part.
- Change of size or shape of the breast
-
- Flatten breast
- Indented breast
- Change in size of breasts
- Change in color of breasts
- Change in shape of breasts
- Lump in the breast
- Lump in the underarm area (lymph nodes)
- Nipple discharge including blood
- Abnormal skin texture
- Changes in skin texture (redness or thickening)
- Lump or mass outside and inside the breast
- Redness of breast in non lactating women
- Skin irritation
- Marble like area under the breast skin
A painless lump in the breast is usually the most common initial sign. When performing an examination a hard, uneven edged lump has the highest chance of being cancerous. But there is no guarantee that. Soft tender lump is not cancerous.
How to recognize if your breasts are abnormal?
By checking your breasts on a planned schedule, you will realize what is your normal breast. If ever your breasts feel different or look different visit your doctor. It is always advisable to go to a doctor if you are suspicious.
Breast Cancer Self Examination
When should you start doing self breast examination?
Start performing a monthly self-exam as soon as your breasts are fully developed. Checking yourself regularly is important — you need to know what your breasts feel like normally so you can recognize any changes. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you’re no longer having periods, choose a day that’s easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month. Keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for breasts to feel lumpy due to benign fibrocystic breast disease, cysts, scar tissue, infections, and other causes that have nothing to do with cancer.
It is advisable to perform a breast examination every 4-5 weeks.
How to do a breast self examination?
This video does not replace actual medical advice. Always consult your doctor with any questions or concerns.
Step 1: Do a monthly self-exam
Start performing a monthly self-exam as soon as your breasts are fully developed. Checking yourself regularly is important — you need to know what your breasts feel like normally so you can recognize any changes. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you’re no longer having periods, choose a day that’s easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month. Keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for breasts to feel lumpy due to benign fibrocystic breast disease, cysts, scar tissue, infections, and other causes that have nothing to do with cancer.
Step 2: Have lumps checked
Know what you’re feeling for: a lump that feels different from your breast’s normal lumpiness, like discovering a pebble in your oatmeal. Though many lumps are benign, anything that feels new or odd should be checked by your doctor — even if you’ve recently had a clean mammogram. Check for lumps in your armpits, too. Cancerous lumps are more likely to be hard, painless, and unmovable.
Step 3: Beware of dimpled skin
Look for visible changes, like dimpled, puckered, thickened, reddened, or scaly breast skin, or a flattening or indentation on the breast. All are potential breast cancer symptoms that should be evaluated.
Step 4: Note nipple changes
Recognize the nipple changes that can indicate breast cancer — pain; redness; scaliness; itching; skin thickening; the nipple turning inward; or discharge other than breast milk.
Step 5: Have pain and swelling evaluated
See your doctor about swelling in all or part of your breast, or breast pain. Though swelling and soreness are usually no cause for concern, these symptoms can be signs of a rare but aggressive form of the disease known as inflammatory breast cancer.
Step 6: Get regular check-ups
Have your doctor perform a breast examination at your yearly check-up, and begin annual mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of the disease, tell your doctor: they may suggest that you start having mammograms at an earlier age. Knowing the signs of breast cancer — and being proactive about knowing how to recognize them early — is the best way to protect yourself.