4 Early Signs of Breast Cancer you are Likely to Ignore
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancerous disease among the female population. According to the American Cancer Society, by the end of this year, there will be approximately 246,660 new invasive breast cancer cases among the American women.
Early Signs of Breast Cancer
The experts also state that nearly 40,450 of those cases will result in death. Being aware of the warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer is crucial for detecting this disease in its early stages and, therefore, for receiving a successful treatment. Here are 4 early breast cancer signs which are commonly ignored.
Fatigue is the most common early sign of breast cancer. This symptom is present even before the disease is diagnosed. According to the experts, the fatigue occurs because the cancer creates an imbalance of hormones in the body.
The fatigue which occurs as a result of breast cancer is persistent and severe, and it cannot be alleviated by rest or sleep.
This fatigue is usually associated with high levels of stress, and it is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as depression, sleep disturbance, and pain.
Appearance of a New Mole or Change in an Existing Mole
Although the moles are most commonly related to skin cancer, they can often be an indication of breast cancer as well. A study monitored the medical record of 89,902 women, aged from 40 to 65 years old, over a period of 18 years.
The study documented the number of moles in each woman. During the study, breast cancer affected 5,956 of the women.
The researchers concluded that the risk of breast cancer was increased by 13% in the women who had a great number of moles.
In case you notice an appearance of a new mole or some change in an existing one, you should immediately visit your doctor.
Persistent Cough or Hoarseness
Primary cancer, or primary site, is the place where the cancer starts to develop. If the cancer cells start to spread to another place in the body, the new cancerous area is called secondary cancer, or metastasis.
The breast cancer is likely to spread to the lungs. In fact, in approximately 65% of the women who suffer from this type of cancer, the disease spreads to the lungs.
This cancer can be easily detected by an occurrence of certain symptoms, such as a prolonged dry cough, hoarseness, and shortness of breath.
Unexplained Back Pain
Back pain is a very common health problem. This kind of pain is experienced by 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lives.
The back pain is a sign that the breast cancer is forming. In the case of breast cancer, the pain appears in the upper part of the back. Also, you are likely to feel pressure on your spine or ribs.
If you experience this kind of back pain, especially if it feels like it is coming from the bones, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible because this can indicate that the cancer has spread to your spine.