Breast cancer symptoms and signs

If you have known or heard of anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you have probably wondered about breast cancer symptoms and signs. Breast cancer is a serious condition resulting from the uncontrollable growth of breast cells. 22% of all cancer cases associated with women are of breast cancer. Even though a woman is much more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, it is still possible for men to contract it, so it is important that both genders are well-informed on breast cancer symptoms and signs.

Cancer results from gene mutations that allow cells to replicate themselves without regulation and eventually form tumors, which can be either benign or malignant. Breast cancer comes from malignant tumors that grow from uncontrolled breast cells. If these cancer cells spread to the lymph nodes, they have a pathway to travel throughout the body and possibly harm other healthy cells. Because of how subtle this whole process can develop within the body, the only way to detect breast cancer is to diligently check for the presence of breast cancer symptoms and signs.

The most prominent early sign of breast cancer is the presence of a lump on a woman’s breast. This lump can be found anywhere on a woman’s breast right under the skin surface and can even be located in the armpit’s lymph nodes. This lump is usually hardened, painless, and has uneven edges, but it also can be softer and more rounded. Since this lump has different characteristics and can potentially go unnoticed or ignored, the only way to confirm the possibility of breast cancer is through a mammogram performed by a doctor.

Besides a lump, other breast cancer symptoms and signs include skin irritation or a skin dimpling, changes in breast skin color or texture, swelling of all or part of the breast, pain in the breast or nipple, changes in nipple appearance including the nipple turning inward or a red and scaly thickening of the nipple, and a clear or bloody discharge from the nipple. All of these breast cancer symptoms and signs should be taken into consideration when trying to diagnose one’s self, but the only true answer you will get is by seeking official medical advice from a trained physician.

Breast Cancer Symptoms in Men

Breast cancer in men is a rare disease. This is because men do have a small amount of breast tissue, similar to that of a prepubescent girl. Men do not secrete the same hormones as women do during puberty which is why their breast tissue never fully develops. However, it is still breast tissue and can still develop cancer.

The rarity of male breast cancer means that most men are not in tune with breast cancer symptoms that would alert them to the problem. Another possibility is that men are less likely to be suspicious of an abnormality in the area and coupled with the smaller breast tissue makes it more difficult to spot cancer early and before it can spread. The American Cancer Society identifies several breast cancer symptoms that men should take note of, including:

1. Skin dimpling
2. Nipple retraction
3. Redness of the nipple or breast
4. Nipple discharge

These symptoms may seem obvious but they are not the only breast cancer symptoms men may experience. Vague symptoms, such as aches and pains (not limited to the breast area) or fever could be early symptoms. These vague symptoms present yet another difficult challenge to overcome. Others include; depression, fatigue, persistent cough, and difficulty swallowing.

Fever and fatigue are two breast cancer symptoms men may experience only after cancer has grown. Additionally, they can be linked to other forms of cancer and are not limited to breast cancer. A persistent cough could point to a wide range of maladies from the benign common cold to the flu, but if it persists longer than three weeks, it could be cancer.

Lastly, breast cancer symptoms in men also include lumps or swelling in the lymph nodes and testicles, urinary problems and indigestion. The problem with many of these secondary and tertiary symptoms is that one would not associate them immediately as breast cancer symptoms. The urinary problems, such as the urge to urinate more often, inability to start urinating, and weak stream, are similar to those associated with a weak bladder or an enlarged prostate, both of which are more common in men than breast cancer. Indigestion is more commonly associated with a heart attack or GI problems than breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men is a serious disease, one that should not be taken lightly and whose warning signs should not be ignored. If you begin to develop any of these symptoms please see your doctor as soon as possible.