Breast Cancer Symptoms And Its Early Warning Signs
Like any other forms of carcinoma, the symptoms of breast cancer, too, can be highly varied. However still, if you know what you are dealing with at the earliest, you can get diagnosed at an early stage. This way, it will be easier for you to get cured quickly.
However, if you want to learn more about how it’s going to be diagnosed, talking to a doctor will be the best course of action.
The Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
Some of the most common signs of breast cancer may include the following –
- A lump in your underarm or breast that doesn’t go away, even after a week. Usually, it is one of the most common and earliest signs of breast tumors. Hence, if you are feeling something, make sure to talk to a doctor. They will perform a mammogram to check if there’s a presence of a tumor in there or not.
- Swelling in or near your collarbone and your armpits. This might mean that cancer has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. It may mean that your cancer has grown into an advanced stage. Sometimes, this type of swelling might begin even before you feel the lump in your breast. So, it’s best to consult with your doctor about it accordingly.
- Tenderness or pain in your breasts. Usually, cancerous lumps don’t hurt much at all. In some cases, however, they may cause pressure surrounding your breast and cause a lot of pain. It might, sometimes, cause tenderness in your breasts as well. Apart from this, it may also cause a prickly feeling in your breasts too.
Apart from this, breast tumors can also cause an indented or flat area on your breast. It usually happens due to the presence of a tumor that you can’t see or feel.
Breast cancer can also change the shape of your nipples. For example, it can –
- Get pulled inward.
- Sense a feeling or burning.
- Itch or get dimpled.
- Develop sores on the outside.
In some cases, unusual nipple discharge can also be a warning sign of breast cancer. It may be bloody, clear, or of another color. All in all, if you see even a small change in your breast, it’ll be better to consult with a doctor accordingly.
How is Breast Cancer Treated?
The treatment procedure for your breast cancer will depend on the size of the tumor, the stage it is at, and the grade of the carcinoma. Also, whether or not the cells are sensitive to hormones will be a deciding factor in this case. Your health and preferences will also be a part of it.
Considering everything else, breast cancer can be treated in more than one way. These might include the following –
- Depending on the size and the location of the cancer, your doctor may decide to get it operated on entirely. However, if you are too old or have a rather fragile body, it mightn’t be an option in your case. In that case, your doctor might resort to…
- Chemotherapy. It’s the most common solution for treating breast cancer. But, it’ll not offer a 100% guarantee that your cancer will be cured. However, by using this one, your doctor might try to reduce the size of the tumor and operate on it later on.
- Finally, if cancer has been spread to the nearby lymph nodes, the doctor can resort to removing your breasts entirely.
The Bottom Line
Contrary to what most people think, curing breast cancer is certainly possible. However, it’ll be important for you to get diagnosed as early as possible. And for that, you must keep an eye on your health as frequently as you can. Checking for lumps in your breast will be a must here. And if you find something, don’t forget to talk to your doctor quickly.
