6 Symptoms Of Breast Cancer Women Should Stop Overlooking
Thousands of women are diagnosed with
breast cancer each year. For women, only lung cancer has a higher death
rate than breast cancer. While this type of cancer can be deadly, there
are warning signs that can help you catch it early.
It isn’t exactly known why breast
cancer develops, but there are some factors that seem to increase your
chances of developing breast cancer. Your age (and gender) increase your
risk; While men can be diagnosed with chest cancer, it is one hundred
times mores common in women. The highest rate of invasive breast cancer
are found in women 55 and older.
There also seems to be a higher risk if
your close blood relatives had or have breast cancer. Also, the risk of
breast cancer increases with higher amounts of alcohol use and obesity
after menopause.
Knowing the risks and the symptoms of
breast cancer can significantly increase your chances of catching the
illness early. Luckily, there are some things you can look for. While
finding a lump in your breast is a common symptom, there are others
signs to look for.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately:
1. Breast Sizes
If the size of one chest enlarges significantly in a short amount of time, this could be a warning sign of
breast cancer. Breasts are normally different sizes, but noticing a
drastic increase in size or an abnormal change in shape could be
something to be concerned about.
Even if there is no lump present,
swelling on your breast (even in a small area) is not a good sign.
Swelling can also accompany fever-like symptoms; if this is the case,
your breasts will feel warm, may become inflamed, become red or purple
and will swell. Immediately inform your doctor if you experience these
symptoms.
3. Abnormal Ni.pples
Other than breast milk, any other
discharge is not normal. Decreased nipple sensitivity is also something
to be aware of. Additionally, if your ni.pple retracts (pulls inward,)
or is discolored, be sure to call your doctor.
4. Redness or itchiness
Having a bumpy “orange peel” texture on
your breast or nipple area could very well be a symptom of breast
cancer. If you experience severe itching on your breast and
dermatologist visits (and creams) don’t soothe your symptoms, call your
doctor.
5. Noticing a lump
There are benign lumps that form in the
breast that may not be cancerous. However, if you notice a mass (that
you haven’t noticed before, or that feels harder than the surrounding
lumps) schedule a chest examination. Be sure to notice any sort of
abnormal mass near your armpit; though it is not in your breast, it
could still be breast cancer.
6. Breast Pain
This can be caused by a variety of
other things that aren’t cancer. Fluctuating hormones, some fertility
treatments, stress and wearing a bra that doesn’t fit right can all
cause breast pain. If your pain isn’t caused by this list or accompanies
other symptoms, contact your doctor.
Some women feel pain in their back or
chest instead of their breast. If this pain does not go away with
physical therapy or stretching, inform your doctor.
Not all of these symptoms are symptoms
of breast cancer. If you get other treatments (like a cream or
antibiotic) for these symptoms, but you do not notice a difference
within a few days, be sure to call your doctor and be assertive about
tests for breast cancer.
Mammograms have significantly increased
the detection rate for breast cancer. Regularly schedule these
appointments if you are above the age of 40, or if you have a family
history of breast cancer. However, there are things a mammogram cannot
detect. Having dense breasts make cancer harder to detect even with a
mammogram and helps the cancer cells spread more rapidly. Talk to your
doctor for additional tests if you fit this description.
Be diligent with your own breast
examinations and be aware of what chest cancer symptoms look and feel
like. If you are at all concerned, make an appointment with your doctor. share this and save women from breast cancer
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