Cancer is a term used to refer to a group of diseases that arise as a result of your body cells growing uncontrollably and spreading to surrounding tissue. Normally, growing cells will age and break down as new ones are formed. When cancer starts, these old cells fail to break and continue growing while new ones continue forming at the same time which may result in a tumour.
In cancer of the breast, a tumour will form in the cells of the breast. As the tumour grows, cancerous cells spread into healthy cells surrounding it and may end up in the lymph nodes. Breast Cancer is the second most common type of cancer found among women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cancer of the breast affects 1 in 8 women are prone to develop it at some point in their life. This actually means that if you were to live to 80 years, you have a 12% chance of getting it, which is actually less alarming than what the statistics portray. Cancer of the breast is most common in women as compared to men, although a small percentage of males will get it during their lifetime. Now that we have a general idea of what cancer of the breast is, what are some of its symptoms?
Lump in the breast
If you happen to notice a lump in your breast or in your armpit, it could be a sign of cancer. The cancerous cells may form a lump which can be easily felt by the hands. In other instances, the breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes that are nearest to it, usually the armpit. Lumps in the breast can also be the reason for other infections so it is a good idea to have it checked out.
Another symptom that could point to cancer of the breast is discharged which could be watery or thick. Nipple discharge in breastfeeding women is no cause for concern and could also be caused by the use of contraceptive pills or other medical issues such as thyroid disease.
Irritation to the surface of the breast
A third symptom is noticeable changes to the skin’s surface. If you notice changes such as redness, inflammation or unexplained dry skin around your nipple area, have it checked out to strike out any other cause like eczema.
Dimpling on your breast
Some types of cancers will form dimpling of the skin around the breast and make it look like the peel of an orange. Should you notice this symptom, speak to your doctor as it could point towards a very life-threatening form of cancer of the breast.
Intense pain in your breast
If you notice any burning pain in the breast or nipple, best get it checked out by your doctor as it could indicate the presence of cancer of the breast. In most cases, cancers will rarely cause pain.
Swelling of your breast
Noticeable swelling in the breast could also be a sign of cancer. Swelling could be caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lymph nodes as a result of blockage by the cancerous cells.
Even though the above symptoms point towards cancer of the breast, you should, however, note that most of them might be caused by a myriad of other issues. To understand the cause of any symptom, it is best to speak to your doctor. Remember, a cancer diagnosis made early enough is easier to treat and manage compared to one that is found in its advanced stages.