| Expert Talk Free Expert Tips and Advices |
Home » Cancer » Breast Cancer Symptoms
Breast Cancer SymptomsIn a perfect world, we'd get prior warning when breast cancer was about to occur. An alarm would sound, a red flag would wave or we'd receive a letter in the mail. But the real world, unfortunately, isn't quite so thoughtful.Early breast Most lumps in breasts are not cancerous. But if you do find one, it is very important to have your doctor examine it as soon as possible. For some women, breast cancer initially presents as a bump under the arm or above the collarbone that doesn't go away. As the disease progresses, other symptoms will appear such as nipple inversion or discharge, or changes to the skin and surface of the breast. Discharge from the breast is quite common and is rarely a symptom of cancer. However, if there is blood in the discharge, or if it happens in only one breast, then a physician would be more concerned. Nipple inversion is also very common, but if it occurs suddenly, i If you notice swelling or redness of the breast, this might indicate an infection of the tissue. Quick treatment is advised for any type of infection. Similarly, if you find strong pain, redness, or swelling in your shoulder, armpit, or breast, seek the advice of your health care provider. Breast cancer is most easily treated when it is detected early. Changes to the skin, such as puckering or changes in texture, or redness, can also appear when breast cancer is present. Other diseases may also cause any of these effects, but it is important to rule out breast cancer by consulting with a doctor. Breast cancer can take months or even years to develop. Once diagnosed, it's crucial to begin treatment immediately, as it is much more difficult to treat cancer once it has begun to spread throughout the body in what is called metastastic spread. Mammogram tests can often detect the earliest signs of breast cancer. Once per year women over 40 should have this test done, which involves an electronic scan of the breast tissue. If anything abnormal is found, don't panic; rather, set up an appointment immediately with your doctor to do further evaluation, and perhaps to set your mind at ease. In addition to a mammogram, manual examination and ultrasolography may also be used to detect abnormalities. A complete physical examination of the breast includes a visual inspection and palpitation, including the armpits and areas around the collarbone. Your healthcare provider may palpate for a lump or feel for a thickening in the skin. A biopsy, where a piece of the lump or tissue is removed, is the only definite method to test the cells and provide a positive diagnosis. It's imperative that women are aware of the symptoms of breast cancer: * A lump under the arm, above the collarbone, or in the breast that remains for more than a week * Discharge from a nipple * Changes to the nipples, such as inversion * Changes to the skin surface of the breast During your regular self-examinations, if you find any of these symptoms, don't take a chance, but see your doctor as soon as you can to determine if what you have found requires treatment. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Mabel Dugmore is an author for several well-known online magazines, on woman health and new products topics. Feel free to grab a unique version of this article from the Unique Articles Submissions Service Permalink: http://expert-talk.com/tips/997/breast-cancer-symptoms-24997.htm Related Tips and Advices
| Related Tags            |
SEND A COMMENT
PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the article, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.