Breast Cancer Symptoms: What Should You Know?

Breast cancer is a type of cancer in which cells in the breast grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a mass of tissue known as a tumor.

It is the most common cancer diagnosed in women after skin cancer in the United States. It not only happens in women but even men get affected by it. Usually, it is prevalent in women.

However, the survival rates increased, and the number of deaths associated with the disease witnessed a steady decline. All thanks to the considerable support and awareness that have helped acknowledge its early detection through symptoms of breast cancer and advanced treatment. 

With the passage of time, the disease has been taken with a deep awareness and a new personalized approach.

It is necessary to take note of breast health. You can do this by regular screening tests for breast cancer. Mammograms can diagnose early signs of breast cancer but always cannot identify every breast cancer. It is normal to know what your breasts look and feel like, so you can easily detect the changes in the breasts.  

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast multiply and grow out of control. A new lump or mass is the most common symptom of breast cancer.

It can be determined by different stages. It relies on varied factors like the size and location of the tumor and whether it has been spread to other organs. Let’s look at the different stages of Breast cancer which are as follows- 

• Stage 0 - It is regarded as non-invasive and shows it hasn’t mounted out of your ducts. 
• Stage I - The cancer cells roll out to the nearby breast tissues. 
• Stage II - The tumor at this stage can be measured anywhere between 2 to 5 centimeters across, and it may or may not impact the lymph nodes. 
• Stage III - Cancer at this stage expands ahead of the point of starting. It spreads to the lymph nodes nearby. But it has not spread to distant organs yet and is usually regarded as locally advanced breast cancer.  
• StayIV - Cancer opens out away from the breast like bones, liver, lungs, or brain. This condition is referred to as metastatic breast cancer.

How is Breast cancer detected?

If you identify any symptoms of breast cancer, then consulting a healthcare expert timely is a prudent approach. Based on your given details, they will execute a breast review and may enquire about the family history, medical history, and other existing symptoms. They recommend certain tests to examine breast abnormalities, and the tests are - 

• Mammogram - The special X-ray images can identify the changes or abnormal growths in the breast. So, it is commonly used in breast cancer prevention. 
• Ultrasonography - Sound waves are sent to shoot pictures of the tissues inside of the breast. It usually helps in the diagnosis of breast lumps or abnormalities. 
• PET or Positron emission tomography scanning - A PET scan utilizes special dyes to examine suspicious areas. In the test, your healthcare provider injects a special dye into the veins and takes the image with the scanner. 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - Magnets and Radio waves are utilized to give a clear, detailed insight into the inside structures of the breast. 

If the healthcare experts detect anything suspicious on the imaging tests, they may be sent it further for a biopsy of the breast tissue. Then the samples will be delivered to the pathology lab for analysis. 

Early signs of Breast Cancer

Symptoms of breast cancer may change from person to person. Several possible signs of breast cancer are as follows - 

• Change in the size, shape, or curves of your breast. 
• Build up of mass or lump, and it may be small like a pea.
• A lump or thickening in or near your breast or in your underarm that appears through your menstrual cycle. 
• Changes in the look and feel of the skin on the breast or nipple. This may look as dimpled, puckered, inflamed, or scaly.
• Redness near the skin of the breast or nipple. 
• The area is distinctively unique from any other place on either breast. 
• A hardened surface under your skin.
• Clear fluid discharge or blood-stained from the nipple. 

Early signs of breast cancer are given aforementioned. Still, sometimes people don’t notice any symptoms of breast cancer. This is the reason mammogram tests periodically are important.

Seek a Doctor for Help

The above-given symptoms of breast cancer will help you know about cancer at its early stages. Even if the latest mammogram report comes normal, seek a doctor for instant evaluation.