The signs and symptoms described below are not necessarily indicative of breast cancer; they can indeed have other causes. To be sure, it is important to see a doctor.
Lump or lump in the breast
- usually palpable by yourself
- sometimes shown on a mammogram before you can feel it
- sometimes seen during a clinical breast exam before you can feel it
- is constantly present and not going away not with the menstrual cycle
- may feel attached to the skin
- may be hard and irregular, and look different from the rest of the breast tissue
- may be tender without being painful (pain is more a symptom of injury mild, but we still recommend checking with your doctor)
Lump or lump in the armpit
- enlargement of a lymph node, which usually means the lymphatic system is fighting an infection in that area of the body
- sometimes means breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
Nipple inverted
- some nipples are always inverted
- if the nipple was not inverted and becomes inverted, see your doctor
Crust, ulceration, or eczema-like symptoms on the nipple
- may be a sign of Paget’s disease, a rare form of breast cancer
Discharge from the nipple
- may have different causes and should always be reported to your doctor
- may be a sign of cancer if it occurs spontaneously (without pressure) and contains blood
Changes in the size or shape of the breasts
- changes in the contour of the breast
- changes in the size of the breast
Changes in the epidermis of the breasts
- appearance of dimples or folds in the skin
- thickening or dimpling of the skin (“skin orange ”), which may be associated with inflammatory breast cancer
- redness, swelling or increased heat in the affected breast
- papillae and protrusions (round itchy patches)
- distended veins forming an irregular pattern
Consistent factors associated with increased risk
- Woman with first child after age 30 or never having children
- No history of breastfeeding
- Close relative (s) affected. breast cancer
- Gender: over 99% of breast cancer occurs in women
- Age: risk increases with age
- Early menstruation (before the age of 12)
- Late menopause (after age over 55 years)
- Long-term hormone replacement therapy (> 5 years)
Less consistent factors associated with increased risk of breast cancer
- Drinking alcohol
- Being physically inactive
- Smoking
- Using birth control pills. Note that although birth control pills seem to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, they do decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women (9 -11%). Although the causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, research shows that it is possible to reduce the risk of developing the disease, or of dying from it, by reducing risk factors related to lifestyle. and the environment, and passing breast cancer screening tests.