One in eight women will have breast cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health website Medline Plus. This type of cancer often originates in the milk-producing lobules of the breast, or milk ducts, though more rare types of breast cancer can begin elsewhere. Though not common, men can also develop breast cancer. A patient with advanced breast cancer can experience symptoms in other areas of the body to which the cancer has spread.
Breast Lump
A patient with breast cancer may feel a lump in the breast, which feels different from the other breast tissue. It may have uneven edges or be a hard mound. Some patients may feel the lump in their armpit. MedlinePlus points out that these lumps are typically painless. The size of the breast lump depends on the stage of the breast cancer. For example, a stage I breast cancer tumor is about the size of a pea, while a stage II breast cancer tumor is about the size of a strawberry, according to the MayoClinic.com. Patients may notice that the shape of the breast has changed.
Nipple Appearance
Breast cancer can cause physical changes to the nipples. MayoClinic.com explains that patients can have an inverted nipple, in which the tip of the nipple retracts inward instead of pointing out. The skin of the nipple can also exhibit changes such as peeling or flaking skin.
Pain and Tenderness
Some patients may experience breast tenderness or pain. The discomfort may become worse when someone touches the affected breast. MedlinePlus notes that in advanced breast cancer, patients can have bone pain as well if a tumor starts growing in the bone.
Discharge
Abnormal discharge from the nipple can occur with breast cancer. For example, some patients can have bloody discharge. Other patients may have discharge that looks like pus, according to Medline Plus. The color of the pus-like discharge ranges from clear to yellow, though some patients may have a green nipple discharge.
Skin Changes
Breast cancer patients might note changes to the skin on the breast such as dimpling and pitting of the skin that results in an orange peel-like appearance, according to MayoClinic.com. The National Cancer Institute explains that inflammatory breast cancer, which occurs in 1 to 5 percent of breast cancer cases, causes redness of the skin. Patients with this type of breast cancer may also have swollen breasts.
Other Clinical Symptoms
In the advanced stages of breast cancer, the cancer can cause symptoms in areas outside of the breast. Medline Plus notes that patients can have swelling in the arm closest to the breast cancer site. For example, if a patient has cancer in her left breast, her left arm might experience swelling. Some breast cancer patients may experience weight loss as well.
