Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer.Advances in screening and treatment for breast cancer have improved survival rates dramatically since 1989. According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The chance of any woman dying from breast cancer is around 1 in 38 (2.6%).Breast cancer can make many women worry. And that’s natural.Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50, but younger women can also get breast cancer.About 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. There's a good chance of recovery if it's detected in its early stages.For this reason, it's vital that women check their breasts regularly for any changes and always get any changes examined by their GP.After puberty, a woman’s breast consists of fat, connective tissue, and thousands of lobules. These are tiny glands that produce milk for breastfeeding. Tiny tubes, or ducts, carry the milk toward the nipple.Cancer causes the cells to multiply uncontrollably. They do not die at the usual point in their life cycle. This excessive cell growth causes cancer because the tumor uses nutrients and energy and deprives the cells around it.Breast cancer usually starts in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. From there, it can spread to other parts of the body.The precise causes of breast cancer are unclear, but we know the main risk factors. Still, most women considered at high risk for breast cancer do not get it, while many with no known risk factors do.The main risks are being older and having breast cancer in your family. The risk goes up for women with certain types of benign breast lumps and for women who have had ovarian cancer. And if you've had breast cancer, you can get it again.In its early stages, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. In many cases, a tumor may be too small to be felt, but an abnormality can still be seen on a mammogram. If a tumor can be felt, the first sign is usually a new lump in the breast that was not there before. However, not all lumps are cancer.Each type of breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Many of these symptoms are similar, but some can be different. Symptoms for the most common breast cancers include:breast paina breast lump or tissue thickening that feels different than surrounding tissue and has developed recentlyinverted nipplered, pitted skin over your entire breastswelling in all or part of your breasta nipple discharge other than breast milka lump or swelling under your armpeeling, scaling, or flaking of skin on your nipple or breasta sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of your breastbloody discharge from your nipplechanges to the appearance of the skin on your breastsIf you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer. For instance, pain in your breast or a breast lump can be caused by a benign cyst. Still, if you find a lump in your breast or have other symptoms, you should see your doctor for further examination and testing. Learn more about possible symptoms of breast cancer.Early diagnosis greatly improves the odds of survival. When detected early, breast cancer has a very high five-year survival rate, and patients who reach this stage often go on to live long, healthy lives. Survival rates are lower for cancers that have spread locally, and they are very low for cancers that have metastasized, or spread, to distant parts of the body.This cancer may be discovered by the patient during a regular self-examination. When a self-exam is performed on a monthly basis, a woman becomes familiar with her breasts and can readily detect an abnormal change, such as a lump, a swelling, dimpling, or a change in contour, warranting immediate clinical examination. A change that is noticed through self-examination may not always be indicative of cancer. Alternatively, if the change found is cancer, the growth may already be fairly advanced.Before palpable, growths in the breast may be detected through a procedure known as mammography, which entails the use of X-rays to detect lesions in breast tissue. Mammography is often used for initial diagnosis, but, in order to confirm the presence of cancer, a tissue sample (biopsy) usually must be taken. If cancer is suspected to have spread (metastasized) to nearby lymph nodes, they must also be sampled. Metastasis generally begins in a so-called sentinel lymph node (the first lymph node invaded by cancer cells) and, in the case of breast cancer, spreads to axillary lymph nodes, which are located in and around the armpits.When cancer has been diagnosed, the tumour’s type and degree of invasiveness is assessed. Several imaging methods may be used to determine the degree of metastasis, including X-rays, computerized axial tomography (CAT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The presence of receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone is also determined because it play an important role in the cancer’s development and in decisions regarding the appropriate treatment.A woman who has had cancer in one breast, such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer, is three to four times likelier to develop a new breast cancer, unrelated to the first one, in either the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different than a recurrence of the previous breast cancer.Direct family history.Having a mother, sister, or daughter ("first-degree" relative) with breast cancer puts a woman at higher risk. It's even greater if this relative developed breast cancer before 50 and had cancer in both breasts.Having one first-degree relative with breast cancer roughly doubles your risk, and having two first-degree relatives triples your risk. Having a male blood relative with breast cancer will also increase the risk.Age.Your risk goes up as you age. About 77% of women diagnosed with breast cancer each year are over 50, and more than 40% are 65 and older.In women ages 40 to 50, there is a 1 in 68 chance of developing breast cancer. From 50 to 60, that goes up to 1 in 42. From 60 to 70, it's one in 28. And in women 70 and older, it's 1 in 26.Genetics.About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are inherited. Carriers of alterations in either of two genes, called BRCA1 or BRCA2, are at higher risk. Women with an inherited alteration in the BRCA1 gene have a 72% chance of developing breast cancer by the time they’re 80. There’s a 69% chance that a woman with an inherited alteration in the BRCA2 gene will get breast cancer by that age.Dense breasts.Your breasts are a mix of fatty, fibrous, and glandular tissue. Dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous tissue and less fat. A woman with dense breasts is 1.5 to 2 times more likely to get breast cancer.Distant family history.This refers to breast cancer in second- or third-degree relatives such as aunts, grandmothers, and cousins.Breast lesions.Having atypical hyperplasia (lobular or ductal) or lobular carcinoma in situ increases a woman's breast cancer risk by four to five times.Previous abnormal breast biopsy.Women with earlier biopsies showing any of the following have a slight increased risk: fibroadenomas with complex features, hyperplasia without atypia, sclerosing adenosis, and solitary papilloma.Reproductive history.The more estrogen your body has made over time, the higher your risk. Getting your period before age 12, starting menopause after age 55, and never being pregnant raise your lifetime exposure to estrogen and breast cancer risks.Radiation treatment.If you had radiation treatment to your chest before age 30, usually as treatment for cancers such as lymphoma.Other cancer in the family. If a family member had ovarian cancer before age 50, your risk is increased.Nearly everyone knows someone touched by the disease.But there is a lot of good news about breast cancer recently. Treatments keep getting better, and we know more than ever about ways to prevent breast cancer. These simple steps can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Not every one applies to every woman, but together they can have a big impact.Exercise is as close to a silver bullet for good health as there is, and women who are physically active for at least 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. Regular workout is also one of the was to help keep weight in check.It’s easy to tune out because it gets said so often, but maintaining a healthy weight is an important goal for everyone. Being overweight can increase the risk of many different cancers, including breast cancer, especially after menopause.Smokers and non-smokers alike know how unhealthy smoking is. On top of lowering quality of life and increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and at least 15 cancers – including breast cancer – it also causes smelly breath, bad teeth, and wrinkles. Now that’s motivation to stay smoke-free or work to get smoke-free.A healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast cancer. Try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and keep alcohol at moderate levels or lower. While moderate drinking can be good for the heart in older adults, even low levels of intake can increase the risk of breast cancer. If you don’t drink, don’t feel you need to start. If you drink moderately, there’s likely no reason to stop. But, if you drink more, you should cut down or quit.Breastfeeding for a total of one year or more (combined for all children) lowers the risk of breast cancer. It also has great health benefits for the child.Post-menopausal hormones shouldn’t be taken long term to prevent chronic diseases, like osteoporosis and heart disease. Studies show they have a mixed effect on health, increasing the risk of some diseases and lowering the risk of others, and both estrogenonly hormones and estrogen-plus-progestin hormones increase the risk of breast cancer. If women do take post-menopausal hormones, it should be for the shortest time possible. The best person to talk to about the risks and benefits of post-menopausal hormones is your doctor.Birth control pills have both risks and benefits. The younger a woman is, the lower the risks are. While women are taking birth control pills, they have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. This risk goes away quickly, though, after stopping the pill. The risk of stroke and heart attack is also increased while on the pill – particularly if a woman smokes. However, long-term use can also have important benefits, like lowering the risk of ovarian cancer, colon cancer and uterine cancer – not to mention unwanted pregnancy – so there’s also a lot in its favor. If you’re very concerned about breast cancer, avoiding birth control pills is one option to lower risk.Despite some controversy, studies show that breast cancer screening with mammography saves lives. It doesn’t help prevent cancer, but it can help find cancer early when it’s most treatable. For most women, regular mammograms can begin at age 40, but specific recommendations vary by age and risk.If you are age 55 or over:Mammograms are recommended every other year. You can choose to continue to have them every year.If you are age 45 – 54:Mammograms are recommended every year.If you are age 40 – 44:You can choose to begin yearly mammograms. It is important to talk to a doctor about the risk and benefits of mammograms at these ages.Clinical breast exams and self-exams are not recommended. But you should be familiar with your breasts and tell a health care provider right away if you notice any changes in how your breasts look or feel.There are a number of important breast cancer risk factors that women have no control over. Knowing which ones apply to you can help you understand your risk and do what you can to lower it. If you feel you’re at high risk, talk to a doctor or other health professional. These can increase a woman’s breast cancer risk:Older age, especially 60 years or overFirst menstrual period (menarche) before age 12Menopause at age 55 or overNo childrenTall height (5’8” or taller)Family history of breast cancerFirst childbirth after age 35Dense breastsHistory of benign breast disease (like atypical hyperplasiaBeing diagnosed with breast cancer can affect daily life in many ways, depending on what stage it's at and the treatment you're having.How women cope with their diagnosis and treatment varies from person to person. You can be reassured that there are several forms of support available, if you need it.