What are the 5 warning signs of Breast Cancer?
What are the 5 warning signs of Breast Cancer?
In view of the pink month, Breast Cancer Awareness month, we put forward 5 warning signs of breast cancer, which would help in awareness of the initial diagnosis of breast cancer.
Knowing it exists is not enough. Learn More. Pass it on as knowledge to saves lives.
Every woman is at risk, 1 in every 8 women suffers from breast cancer in their lifetime, and it is considered to be the leading death-causing type of cancer among women.
“Early detection can be treated effectively allowing the high chances of survival, tell it loud to yourself, family and friends.”
How would you recognize or confirm if you are at risk of developing breast cancer or you are developing breast cancer?
Are you worried about having breast pain, is an indication for having breast cancer, though not every-time a breast pain is an indication for breast cancer?
5 warning signs of breast cancer
While summarizing the signs for breast cancer, from the American Cancer Society, World Health Organisation, etc., the following are the 5 warning signs of breast cancer. It mentions the different breast conditions as the common most signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
- Breast lumps: that is swelling of part or whole of the breast. This is felt by physical examination most of the time. But few breast lumps may be distinct and cannot be felt physically.
- Nipple Discharge: Bloody discharge through nipples, with or without breast or nipple pain.
- Nipple retraction: a condition in which the nipple sets off inverted.
- Skin changes: The texture of the skin over the breast changes, having redness, skin irritation, thickening of breast tissue or nipple, etc.
- Change in shape or size: through regular physical examination, the breast may appear different in shape or size than regular, or one breast might become larger or lower than the other.
Many times before the primary tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt, cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the adjacent regions of the breast such as under arms and around the collar bone.
Many health care professionals suggest regular screening tests such as physical examinations, mammograms or ultrasound examinations of breast, especially for women who are at high risk i.e. having a strong family history of cancer.
References:
Morrow M. Chapter 3: Physical Exam of the Breast. In: Harris JR, Lippman ME, Morrow M, Osborne CK, eds. Diseases of the Breast. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2014.
