Breast Cancer Symptoms Pain

Breast cancer symptoms pain in the chest area is usually one of the first signs. Many of us have been taught that chest pains signify heart attacks.

Often women ignore chest pains or misconstrue them as heart problems. This can be a fatal mistake. Chest pains are often the first signs of breast cancer when no visible lumps can be detected. Breast cancer symptoms pain in the nipples or nipples turning inward and can also be detected by swelling of all or parts of the breast.

Breast cancer is a disease in which damaged cells in the breast become malignant and form in the tissues of the breast. Cancer can be induced by too much estrogen in the body. Hormone replacement therapy for several years with high doses of estrogen or extensive use of birth control pills can cause that lead up to breast cancer development. Other causes known to fuel the growth of breast cancers are certain types of proteins or low oxygen levels in the body. Alcohol use of more than two drinks daily may increase your risk of breast cancer. Other causes of the disease may not be controllable such as family history of the disease, age and gender, and defective genes which are passed on by a parent.

Annual mammograms are the best measures of prevention since early detection is crucial to providing a cure. If cancer is treated early an optimistic outlook for good health can be expected. Lymph nodes are also checked when biopsies are deemed necessary to make sure cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Lymph nodes are the mode by which the disease is carried throughout the body and when infected nodes are found survival rates decrease since the disease has now spread beyond the breast area.

Treatment of breast cancer depends on many factors such as the stage of progression. There are five stages of cancer from zero to the fourth stage. The higher the stage the cancer is in, the slimmer the chance of survival. Treatment also depends on sensitivity to certain hormones or if cancer over produces a gene called HER2/neu.

Breast cancer is still among the most common cancer in women. Statistics show that one out of every eight women will develop breast cancer. Breast cancer is fatal in one out of every 20 women. Men can also develop breast cancer however statistically only one out of 100 men is affected by the disease. Diet and hormonal causes are believed to be the leading culprits of the causes for breast cancers.

Once breast cancer has been detected it is best to get all the facts from your physician and follow up on regular checkups. A strong support group of family, friends and other cancer survivors can lift one's spirits and renew spirits and hope.

Getting active in support groups can also take your mindset off of the problems you face. Support groups will remind you that you are not alone in battling breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Recurrence Symptoms

Breast cancer recurrence symptoms may take one unawares. Having survived the big C people want to move on and figure that lightning will not strike in the same place twice. The facts are that as many as ten to twenty percents of breast cancer patients will develop cancer recurrence symptoms within the first one to five years after the initial treatment of breast cancer.

Local breast cancer recurrence symptoms reappear in the same area as the original, or “primary,” tumor. This could be in the remaining breast in patients who’ve had a lumpectomy, or it may be in the chest wall or skin in women who’ve had a mastectomy. Signs and symptoms of local recurrence within the same breast may include:

” A new lump in your breast or irregular area of firmness
” A new thickening in the breast area
” A new pulling back of the skin or dimpling at the lumpectomy site
” Skin inflammation or area of redness
” Flattening or indentation of the nipple or other nipple changes

Signs and symptoms of local breast cancer recurrence symptoms on the chest wall after a mastectomy may include:

” One or more painless nodules on or under the skin of the chest wall
” A new area of thickening along or near the mastectomy scar

Regional breast cancer recurrence symptoms mean the cancer has come back in the lymph nodes in your armpit or collarbone area. Signs and symptoms of regional recurrence may include:

” A lump or swelling in the lymph nodes under your arm or in the groove above your collarbone
” Swelling of your arm
” Persistent pain in your arm and shoulder
” Increasing loss of sensation in your arm and hand

Furthermore, Distant or metastatic breast cancer recurrence symptoms mean that cancer has traveled to distant parts of the body. This most commonly occurs in the bones, liver and lungs.

The signs and symptoms may include:

” Pain, such as chest or bone pain
” Persistent, dry cough
” Difficulty breathing
” Loss of appetite
” Persistent nausea, vomiting or weight loss
” Severe headaches
” Fever
” Chills

After treatment for breast cancer, continue to see the doctor for scheduled follow-up exams. Your doctor will check for any signs of breast cancer recurrence symptoms. You’ll also need an annual mammogram if you had a lumpectomy. Still, many women and men discover recurrent on their own. You know your body best – what feels normal and what doesn’t. Check your breasts or chest wall after mastectomy every month to look for changes.

It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of recurrent breast cancer, such as:

” New pain
” Changes or new lumps in the breast/s or surgical scar or chest wall
” Weight loss
” Shortness of breath
If breast cancer recurrence symptoms are present see your doctor immediately.

MALE BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS: EDUCATION AND EARLY DETECTION A PATHWAY TO REDUCTION

Male Breast Cancer Symptoms are just as easily detectable as they would be in women. The only problem is, men typically do not recognize symptoms because they simply aren’t looking for them. If male breast cancer symptoms are detected early, there is the potential for a great treatment response.

Some male breast cancer symptoms include bleeding from the nipple, painless lump formations, changes to the skin around the breast area, changes to the nipple area, and discharge from the nipple. If cancer becomes more advanced and metastasizes, symptoms like increased bone pain, sickness, weakness, and even noticeable weight loss will occur.

Male breast cancer symptoms are typical in those over between the ages of 60 and 70 years old; however, it isn’t impossible to develop male breast cancer symptoms at any age. On average, 2000 men a year develop this form of cancer and approximately 450 die each year due to this form of cancer. This is probably due to the fact that since such a small percentage develops this form of cancer, there is little in the media that would prompt males to do self-examinations. Since so many take it for granted that they will not develop this form, the detection rate is extremely low until it is too late.

To date, nothing has been pinpointed as to the direct cause of male breast cancer. However, many factors exist that point in the direction of certain predispositions to this. These include family history; high levels of estrogen, even cirrhosis of the liver can be a determining factor.

The dangerous part about detecting cancer early is the fact that many males who have this form of cancer may not even notice the symptoms.

For example, if you are a man who is physically fit and works on your pectoral muscles a lot, you probably wouldn’t necessarily notice or even recognize the difference between a small lump formation and your hardened pectoral muscles. Alternatively, if you are an overweight male, you may not detect it for other reasons. The fact of the matter is, aesthetics have little to do with actually having male breast cancer. Cancer just happens to be one disease that does not discriminate.

The good thing is, male breast cancer is rare, accounting for only about 1% of breast cancer cases. No one wants to be in that percentage. However, presuming that you are, you want to give yourself the best chances of survival.

Yes, men have breast tissue, not unlike a prepubescent female. With this fact in mind, men should take the proper precautions to promote early detection. This can only really be done by removing the stigma associated with the fact that it is “breast cancer”. The best way to catch male breast cancer symptoms is to do what you would advise your mother, sister, daughter or girlfriend-go to the doctor.
Do a self-breast exam. It may be embarrassing, but it is your life. Like you would with any other form of cancer, it is up to you to take control and be proactive in the fight against male breast cancer.

Recognizing Breast Cancer Symptoms

Recognizing Breast Cancer Symptoms  - Understanding can be difficult since often early signs are not always recognizable. So where do symptoms begin and what are they? Cancers begin with a group of diseases which cause cells to rapidly change and grow out of control. Most cancer cells grouped together in masses are labeled tumors. A tumor formed by the abnormal growth or swelling of cells which is called neoplastic.
Tumors can be benign or malignant and are not defined the same as cancer. Cancers are always malignant. Symptoms are not always recognized and treatment varies on the discovery of the size, location, and stages of cancer in the victim.

Breast cancer symptoms can be a noticeable flattening of the breast. This could mean a deep tumor which cannot yet be detected or felt. Because lumps are usually painless a person should be aware of tingling or tenderness and pain in the chest or breast. Any changes in size, color, itching, discharge, texture, or even the temperature of the breast, are all known breast cancer symptoms. A red pitted skin surface resembling the skin of an orange could signify advanced stages of breast cancer.

It cannot be said enough that a key factor for a cure, is recognizing the symptoms of breast cancer. Annual mammogram tests save lives. The earlier the detection of breast cancer and breast cancer symptoms is recognized, the higher your rate of survival becomes. The Internet on line support groups are available and can be very comforting to victims of breast cancer. Foundations such as the Susan G. Kommen foundation and the American Cancer Society reach out to victims of breast cancers. Support groups and programs often help with expenses and support.

Once a diagnosis of cancer is given, therapy can commence. Milder stages of cancer may only require local therapies. Local therapy includes the use of radiation and surgery. Methods for systematic therapy for a bit more advanced breast cancers include medication drugs given orally by mouth that go into the blood stream and destroy any remaining cancer cells. Chemo therapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies are all part of systematic therapy.

Adjuvant therapy is a preventative measure for patients who have no visible signs of breast cancer remaining to be treated. Adjuvant therapy tries to kill hidden cancerous cells that break away from the primary breast tumor that may continue to spread to other places in the body and form new tumors.

Neoadjuvant therapy is when treatment such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapies is given before surgery. Treatments are given before the surgery for the purpose of giving the breast cancer victim a less invasive or intensive surgery. The hope is that it may shrink the cancer location enough to give less discomfort to the patient after surgery.