The symptoms of breast cancer can vary depending on the stage of the cancer. However, immediate treatment is required as soon as the disease is diagnosed. If detected early enough, breast cancer sometimes can be treated successfully without the need for surgery. Even though there is no prevention for the disease, finding the cancer in the early stages is the best chance for long-term survival. There are several signs to look for that may cause you to suspect that you might have breast cancer which need to be promptly followed up with further medical evaluation.
Instructions
1. Perform a regular breast self-exam at the same time every month (see Resources below). Feel around each breast and under both arms for any lumps. Although some swelling in the breasts and under the arm is frequently caused by hormonal changes, it also can be an indication of swollen lymph nodes.
2. Look for physical changes in your breasts, particularly in the size or shape of a breast. If you notice unusual thickening, changes in skin color, puckering in the skin of a breast or nipple or a bloody discharge from the nipple, contact your health care provider to schedule a physical examination.
3. Make an appointment to see your physician if you observe that the nipple on one breast has inverted or changed in size. Putting on weight can affect the appearance of the nipples, but if you see that the skin on one nipple is darker in color or has what looks like a rash, you might need an ultrasound. Your doctor may recommend a breast biopsy following the results of a physical exam, mammogram or ultrasound.
4. Feel a hard lump in the breast. Cancerous lumps tend to be firm and usually do not move under the pressure of the fingers. Although not all lumps in the breast are cancerous, have your doctor check it. While fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle can cause swelling and lumpy breasts, do not hesitate to seek medical advice if anything about your breast seems different than normal.
5. Report any pain to your doctor, especially if you experience pain or tenderness in only one breast. While pain alone is rarely a symptom of breast cancer, if it persists for more than four weeks, you should have the symptom evaluated by a physician. Information published by Merck Pharmaceuticals reports that only about 5 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer describe pain as an early symptom (see Reference 3).
6. Schedule routine mammograms. A woman who is age 40 or older should have a mammogram every year. Women who have a family history of breast cancer should begin having mammograms at an earlier age. You also should get an annual breast exam performed by a health care professional.
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