Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be devastating news. The word "cancer" itself often initiates feelings of fear. However, with advances in medicine and technology, breast cancer death rates are continually on the decrease. This is in part because of increased ability to detect the disease in its early stages, so treatment can start as soon as possible. Learning to recognize the early signs of this disease will help you get treatment as early as possible, which greatly increases your chances of survival.
Identification
Cancer occurs when the genes that regulate cell growth become mutated or have abnormal changes. In healthy bodies our cells constantly die and replace themselves. However, abnormalities to these genes can cause them to function incorrectly. This creates a situation in which a cell keeps dividing without control, until it makes enough cells to form a tumor. With breast cancer the cells that are malfunctioning are located in the lobules, or milk-producing glands, and/or in the passageways that drain milk from the lobules. Sometimes breast cancer can occur in areas of fatty and fibrous connective tissues within the breast. Since breast cancer progresses in stages, the earlier it is detected, the better your chances of survival.
Abnormal Test Results
According to the American Cancer Society, the goal is to identify breast cancer before any signs or symptoms develop. A mammogram, which is similar to an x-ray, can detect abnormal cells. While an abnormal mammogram cannot provide a definite diagnosis of cancer, it can help to screen for possible problems. If your doctor sees an abnormality in the breast, he can order a biopsy. MRIs, ultrasounds and ductograms are other tests that can screen for breast cancer, even before any symptoms are present. Getting screened regularly is the best way to detect breast cancer in the early stages.
Physical Changes
You and your doctor should do regular physical exams of the breast to check for warning signs. Visit the American Cancer Society website (see Resources) to learn how to do a self exam. In the early stages of breast cancer, the size and shape of the breast can change. These changes can occur in the breast and even under the arms. The American Cancer Society suggests to look for swelling of any part of your breast, new skin irritations, breast pain and noticing or feeling a lump in the breast or underarm area.
Nipple Changes
If you are developing breast cancer, you may notice a change in skin color or experience a fluid discharge from the nipple that is not milk. The nipples can become painful and turn inwards. Other symptoms can include the skin around the nipple becoming thicker, red or showing signs of scaling. You may notice signs of ridging or pitting resembling the skin of an orange.
Breast Cancer & Men
Breast cancer is rare in men and usually occurs in men who are older. The most common early sign is the development of a firm but non-painful mass just below the nipple. Skin changes such as ulcerations, puckering or dimpling, or the nipple becoming red, scaly or turning inward, may occur in the early stages. Men may experience a bloody or opaque discharge from their nipple. In men pain in the area of the breast usually indicates breast cancer in the later stages.
