What Are The Early Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer? Know The Red Flags


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Cancer has become a common health condition or disease these days. Unlike in the remote past, people are not much afraid of the disease.

Also, people are nowadays much aware of the condition and are willing to accept it just as a health condition that can be cured with extra care. This health disorder is a group of over 100 different diseases and can attack any part of the body.   

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast Cancer is a health condition where the cells in the breast grow innumerously. And within this condition, there are a number of varieties depending on the cells in the breast that turn into cancer. 

Early Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

The breast is composed of three major parts, lobules, ducts, and connective tissues. And most breast cancers start in the ducts or lobules. If not proper care is given, then this cancer can spread to other parts of the body through blood vessels and lymph vessels.

There are two types of breast cancer that are found commonly: Invasive ductal carcinoma and Invasive lobular carcinoma.

Other types that are not so summoned include medullary, mucinous, inflammatory breast cancer, and Paget’s disease. Breast cancer can affect either one breast or both. 

Early Signs Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the type of cancer that is found more commonly in women after skin cancer. This condition not only happens in women but even men can also get diagnosed with breast cancer.

And as a result, people must be very cautious about the early signs of Breast Cancer. Similarly, one should be very aware of the usual look and feel of their breasts to notice any changes in the shape or color at an early stage. 

One of the most common signs of breast cancer is a new mass or lump in breast tissue. Some other signs of breast cancer include: 

  • Inverted nipple or changes in the shape of the nipple. 
  • Changes in the skin texture and irritation in the breast.
  • New lumps around collar bone or underarm. 
  • Redness, rashes, and full or partial swellings in the breast.
  • Nipple discharge can be either clear, red, brown, or yellow.   
  • Thickenings in some parts of the breast.
  • Changes in the color of the breast or nipple.
  • Flaky skin in the areas.

Most of these symptoms are normal and can be caused because of minor infections. So, if you happen to see any difficulties, then consult a physician for analysis.

Every individual differs in breast size, shape, texture, etc. So the above-mentioned symptoms can occur differently in different people.

As a result, always have an idea of your breast and the changes it comes across as you age. This doesn’t mean that you’ll come across this disease as you age, but if it happens you can have a proper analysis before things get worse. 

Importance Of Regular Breast Self-Checks

People can do regular breast self-checks to know what their breasts look and feel normally. Also, this helps in easily finding out the changes that happen in your breasts.

By doing this regularly, you can figure out the difference in the size, shape, and color of your breasts. Also, you can figure out whether your breasts have any dimpling or bulging of the skin. 

In order to have a regular breast self-check, you can stand in front of a mirror and inspect whether your body has any lumps that are unusual.

Check out areas including your arms, armpits, etc. You can even lie down on your back and inspect your breast by feeling it.

Just analyze whether there are any lumps in the whole breast and even examine any changes in your upper area. You can even do this examination while taking a shower. 

Types Of Breast Cancer And Its Symptoms

In addition to its prevalence among females, breast cancer also affects men on a very small scale. In order to detect and treat breast cancer at an early stage, knowledge of the disease’s various subtypes and their associated symptoms is essential.

Individuals can improve their chances of treatment and recovery by getting medical help faster if they are able to recognize these signs.

▶️ Invasive lobular carcinoma

This type of cancer doesn’t show any symptoms at an early stage. But some later symptoms include: 

  1. Hardening of breast tissues instead of lumps. 
  2. Inverted nipples. 
  3. Textural changes of skin in the breast.
  4. Swellings in the breast. 

▶️ Invasive ductal carcinoma

A very common type of cancer that was reported mostly in women. As of an estimate, around 80% of the cases of breast cancer were Invasive ductal carcinoma. They start in the cells and spread to the breast tissues. This cancer can even affect the lymph nodes and other tissues. 

The symptoms of this cancer include:

  1. Swellings in the breast which is common for any type of breast cancer.
  2. Intense pain in the breast and the nipple area. 
  3. Nipple discharge either in clear form or colored.
  4. Inverted nipple. 
  5. Flaky skin in the breast area. 

Apart from these two, some other breast cancer varieties include Ductal carcinoma in situ, Lobular carcinoma in situ, Triple-negative breast cancer, Inflammatory breast cancer, Phyllodes tumors, Paget’s disease of the breast, Angiosarcoma of the breast, etc.

Swelling and lump formation in the breast area is one of the most common symptoms that is reported so far in every condition.   

As mentioned above, the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer gets higher as people age. It was reported that people over the age of 50 experience breast cancer the most. Also, some genetic mutations can also result in increasing the risk of breast cancer. 

Dr. Jun Ren is a dedicated and experienced registered dietitian and nutritionist who is committed to helping people achieve their health goals through personalized nutrition plans. With a passion for promoting healthy eating habits and preventing chronic diseases, Dr. Ren has been able to assist numerous clients in improving their overall quality of life.

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