Despite being a common disease, most women don’t get a timely diagnosis of breast cancer. This is why it’s important to know about the early symptoms of breast cancer so you can take action at the right time.
In the US, every 1 in 8th women is at risk of breast cancer at least once in life. Shocking!
Many of you are lucky to live in countries where yearly mammograms are mandatory. It’s the perfect way to look out for the warning signs of breast cancer in the early stages.
However, not everyone is as fortunate.
Economically deprived countries don’t have such large-scale annual health check-ups for women.
So today I’ll talk about the most common breast cancer early signs that you need to know about.
Let’s get right to it!
9 Tell-Tale Early Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Now let’s take a look at some of the early signs of breast cancer that you should watch out for.
1. Lumps
Lumps are one of the leading breast cancer warning signs. A study found that almost 74% of women experience suspicious bumps in the bosom before cancer diagnosis.
The good news is that not all of them are cancerous. At times, benign lumps develop because of fibroadenoma or mastitis.
So how to know if the lump is cancerous?
Generally, a breast cancer lump would feel like an irregular mass that’s almost immovable and rigid. Most of them are painless to touch but some could be painful.
You may feel the breast cancer lumps are located anywhere in the deep tissues of the bosom, around nipples, the outer chest region, or even under the armpits.
These are some other characteristics you should look out for:
- Uneven or irregular edges
- Feels hard
- Painless
- Keeps increasing in size
- Often present in just one breast
2. Nipple Discharge
Nipple discharge is one of the most common early symptoms of breast cancer which is quite often overlooked.
Discharge from nipples could have a thick or watery consistency. The color could be green, white, brown, red, or clear. Cancerous discharge is usually clear or bloody.
Paget’s disease – a rare form of breast cancer that affects the dark skin around the nipples – also leads to abnormal discharges.
Again, they’re not all suspicious. For example, it’s completely natural to notice ooze after childbirth or breastfeeding.
Here are some breast cancer warning signs you should look out for:
- Bloody color
- If the liquid is oozing continuously
- The discharge is from one of the nipples
- You feel itchiness or discomfort around the nipple
3. Changes in Nipple Skin
If you notice any significant changes around the nipple skin, they may signal early symptoms of breast cancer.
One thing you should know is that the skin around the nipples isn’t exactly smooth. It’s rough and contains small white bumps.
Yes, they’re completely natural!
So the question is — what do breast cancer nipples look like?
You may notice sudden redness or irritation around nipples resembling eczema. The skin would be scaly and dry in texture. If the itchiness stays even after weeks, it’s time to get serious.
The skin around your nipples would also feel tender and sensitive. There may be a burning sensation or tingling.
Many women also experience pitted nipple skin; just like an orange peel with lots of pores.
Lastly, a serious warning breast cancer sign is that the color of your nipples would turn purple or red.
4. Changes in Breast Skin
Similarly, one of the tell-tale early symptoms of breast cancer that you might have missed is changes in your breast skin.
If the cancerous growth reaches the lining of ducts along the inner breast wall, you might notice some visible changes in the bosom skin.
The breasts would feel sore, warm, and sensitive to touch. The skin would exhibit rashes, redness, dark patches, and become thicker.
Generally, the breasts would have a flaky and dry appearance.
Similar to nipples, you might notice visible pores all along the skin. Mostly it only appears on one breast.
If you notice any of these breast cancer warning signs, get yourself checked ASAP.
5. Inverted Nipples
Inverted nipples are also among the several alarming early symptoms of breast cancer that you should never ignore.
If both or just one of the nipples suddenly turn inward, it’s a sign of breast cancer development. As the cancerous growth or tumors scar the tissues, they lose their original shape.
It’s often accompanied by other changes around the skin and maybe some lumps.
Some women naturally have retracted nipples. But if this is new to you, visit a doctor.
6. Misshaped Breasts
One of the biggest early symptoms of breast cancer is changes in the shape of your girls.
Although many women have naturally misshaped breasts, these changes would be quite different, noticeable, and occur in one breast at a time.
You might notice that your boobs are either swelling or shrinking in size. A shrunken bosom is a warning sign of breast cancer and means a tumor is growing that needs your attention.
Other times, breast cancer can cause swelling all over the chest. You may notice one breast is visibly bigger.
The affected breasts would also feel tender, warm, and look red. There may also be nipple changes and discharge. The skin might look like an orange peel and scaly.
7. Swelling in Armpits or Collarbone
Swollen armpits and upper body parts such as the collarbone are also serious early symptoms of breast cancer.
This usually occurs when the cancerous growth has reached the adjoining lymph nodes. You might also feel lumps in these regions.
At this point, you must get instant treatment as the risk of breast cancer spreading to nearby organs is quite high.
Note: Lymphoedema is a condition that causes swollen arms after cancer treatment. It leads to fluid accumulation in the tissues and enlarges the hand, arm, or fingers.
8. Upper Body Pain
If you’re feeling persistent pain in the neck, shoulder, and around the upper back, they might be warning signs of breast cancer.
Usually, backaches are caused by exhaustion or overwork. But if you have tried changing posture or physical therapy, it could be one of the early symptoms of breast cancer.
Cancerous cell growth that spreads to tissues in these areas can cause serious pain. Best to get screened for tumors at this stage.
9. Sore Breasts
Last but not the least, some women also experience breast pain and tenderness. Sore bosom caused by breast cancer would also show many other symptoms mentioned earlier.
Breast cancer pain feels like a sudden sharp ache in one spot or pain in the entire chest. The swelling and inflammation may also cause discomfort.
Hope this article gives you a clear understanding of the several early symptoms of breast cancer you should know about.
Don’t ignore these warning signs of breast cancer and get yourself checked ASAP! Also, make sure you do a monthly self-exam of your girls to ensure everything’s fine.
