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.