Startling Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Betsy, a healthy 40- year- old, routinely does a breast cancer self test. Every thing is usually normal. Until this time, she noticed an unusual discharge from her nipple. Startled, she called her doctor. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women over age 50. It’s a disease in which cells rapidly grow in an uncontrolled manner in the breast. The disease also affects women in their 40s and sometimes even their 30s, but chances of having breast cancer increases with age.
Family history of breast cancer is one risk factor as are age, hormones if you had your first period before age 12, menopause began after age 55 or never had a child or first child born after age 30. If you carry excess weight or use oral contraceptives or drink alcohol, your risk factor increases. In rare cases, breast cancer in men has been found.
Betsy’s discovery of a lump is the most common symptom of breast cancer.
Other symptoms include:
- Changes in the skin’s texture, size, shape or color of the breast.
- Redness of the skin
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit
- Changing or unusual nipple discharge or bleeding,
- Scaling or crusting of the nipple.
- A breast lump in an adult male is abnormal and should be seen by a doctor.
Changes in the breast, including lumps, are not all symptoms of breast cancer. If one or more symptoms are noticed more than two weeks consult your doctor. Treatment depends on the stage of the breast cancer and where it is located. Cancer is treated with surgery to remove the cancer, with chemotherapy and radiation.
Metastatic inflammatory breast cancer is a specific type involving the skin of the breast. Cancer cells block the drainage from the skin of the breast. Symptoms might include redness, tenderness or warmth and the skin thickens with an orange peel appearance. Breast cancer can occur in other wise healthy women. The best way to catch cancer early is by knowing the symptoms of breast cancer.
