Top 10 Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Whether it's a slight ache, persistent discomfort, or an unpleasant sensation in the chest area, it's not a good sign and can be a warning of breast cancer.

Signs: A breast cancer survivor describes the pain as very intense, coming and going unexpectedly. Others mention it as a sensation of a mild electric current flowing from the left breast to the right.

Causes: Tumors come in various sizes, whether solitary masses or scattered lumps behind the nipple or in one of the milk ducts. All of them push breast tissue, causing pain, swelling, and discomfort in the chest.

Management: Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle or an improperly sized bra can also make your 'twin peaks' painful and uncomfortable. However, if the pain persists and lasts, don't ignore it. Instead, seek prompt medical advice.

In some women with breast cancer, they may feel pain in the back or shoulders rather than in the chest or breasts. For this reason, spine experts often look for the presence of a tumor when treating chronic back pain.

Signs: Pain usually occurs in the upper or between the shoulder blades, easily confused with a strained ligament, inflammation of the spinal joints. Patients will feel sharp or dull pain.

Causes: Most breast tumors develop in the breast gland tissue, expanding deep into the chest, near the chest wall. If the tumor grows pushing backward towards the ribs and spine, the patient will experience pain in the back instead of the chest. The first site breast cancer metastasizes into the bones is the spine or ribs, developing into secondary bone cancer.

Treatment: According to a study, the survival rate for breast cancer patients with cancer spreading to the bones is only 8.3%, compared to the general survival rate of 75%. Therefore, pay special attention to back pain. If, after a period of rest and physical therapy, the pain persists, you should inform your doctor and may request an X-ray.

This symptom, primarily associated with inflammatory breast cancer, is often overlooked. Some women visit the doctor and are prescribed various types of creams, but in reality, they have breast cancer.

Signs: Intense itching – the kind of itch that makes you uncomfortable and constantly scratching. Applying cream or ointment doesn't alleviate the itching sensation. Your breast may also be irritated, and the skin may develop red rashes or become rough.

Causes: Rapidly growing cancer cells block blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the skin, causing fluid to accumulate in and under the skin, leading to skin irritation.

Treatment: If the skin around your breast becomes unusual, get it checked immediately. If the doctor diagnoses it as a skin condition or infection and prescribes medication, request a re-evaluation if your symptoms do not disappear.

One of the most common locations for the appearance of a lump is beneath the nipple.

Signs: If you notice the nipple becoming flattened and turning inward, you should be cautious as this is also an early sign of breast cancer. Additionally, you may recognize signs of the disease through the discharge from the 'nipple' without any external stimulation. Moreover, the skin around the nipple may become rough, scaly, or inflamed.

Causes: In many cases, breast tumors develop in the milk ducts or the area just beneath and around the nipple, affecting the appearance of the nipple, causing pain, or leading to discharge.

Treatment: Since you know your nipple best, pay attention to any changes and discuss with your doctor. Mastitis is a common diagnosis when doctors observe changes in the nipple; in such cases, you will be prescribed antibiotics. If this symptom doesn't subside within ten days, return to the hospital and request further assessment.

The size of the breasts may change during pregnancy or menstruation. However, if there is an unusual swelling and tenderness, it could be one of the warning signs of cancer.

Signs: Many women may not feel a lump as usual but notice the breasts getting larger, sagging lower, or having an unusual shape. You can observe this visually.

Cause: The development of tissue deep within the breast or being obscured by dense breast tissue can alter the shape or size of the breast. It makes detecting breast cancer more challenging, so if you have dense breast tissue, be vigilant for these signs.

Handling: Sit in front of a mirror and look at both breasts, then use your hands to lift both breast mounds, then rotate your breasts to both sides and look carefully from each side. If there is a difference in size or shape that you haven't noticed before, see a doctor and report it.

Signs: It can be said that this is one of the most easily noticeable signs of this disease. The breast area may turn red due to allergies to factors such as laundry detergent or a too-tight bra, but a rash or red streaks appearing due to cancer often come with swelling, pain, and itching.

Cause: Breast tumors push and compress tissues, causing the breast to swell, be painful, and turn red.

Handling: Once breast cancer spreads beyond the breast (Stage IV), the average survival rate is less than four years. So, detecting breast cancer as early as possible is extremely important.

Lumps or nodules are the most common signs of breast cancer, but they don't only appear in the 'breast mound' area.

Signs: Lumps may appear under the armpit or in the ribcage area, so if you notice unusual swelling or a lump in these areas, you should get checked.

Cause: Blood vessels in the armpit are the first place where breast cancer spreads through blood fluid draining from the breast. Most breast lymph nodes flow to the armpit, causing the armpit lymph nodes to swell. In some patients, doctors may use swollen armpit lymph nodes as the first sign of breast cancer for diagnosis.

Handling: Colds, flu, and infections can also cause swollen lymph nodes, so if you are sick or infected, there is no need to worry. However, if lymph nodes swell under the armpit and persist for a week without an apparent cause, you need to see a doctor immediately.

Fluid discharge from the nipple is one of the seven early signs of breast cancer. The discharge can be thin or thick, ranging in color from clear to milky white, yellow, green, or red. For breastfeeding women, nipple discharge similar to milk is normal, but when the discharge contains pus, is yellow, or has traces of blood, it serves as a warning sign of breast cancer, urging immediate examination.

Other causes of nipple discharge may include:

• Breast infection
• Physiological changes in the body
• Some health issues, such as thyroid disease or disorders in the brain region
• Side effects of birth control pills or certain medications

The Skin around the Nipple Alters

Most breast gland diseases do not cause changes in the skin, but acute breast gland inflammation can lead to redness, swollen glands, or inflamed ducts. The skin of breast cancer patients may show wrinkles or dimples resembling an orange peel. In these cases, the area around the nipple may develop blisters, itchy skin, persistent rash, possibly indicating Paget's disease, a specific type of breast cancer.

The skin around the nipple contracts, causing nipple retraction and wrinkles. Tiny bumps may appear in the breast ring around the nipple. In severe cases, there may be inflammation around the breast with symptoms such as redness, orange-peel-like swelling, peeling skin, and itching due to allergies.

10. “Coin Slot” Indentation on the Breast

One way to identify breast cancer is to examine indentations on the breast, like a “coin slot,” sometimes a sign of inflammatory breast cancer (an advanced form of breast cancer). This can occur because cancer cells cause the accumulation of blood fluid in the breast, leading to swelling or indentation.

Dr. Rosenbaum Smith (USA) suggests checking by raising your arms high above your head to tense the chest muscles. If you look down and see the coin slot area still present, it could be a sign of breast cancer and should be examined early.