Identifying the Signs of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the
leading cause of cancer deaths.
Every woman's breasts are different so it is important for each
individual woman to be familiar with her breasts in order to
recognize any peculiarities.
Unfortunately, the early stages of breast cancer may not have
any symptoms. This is why it is important to follow screening
recommendations. As a tumor grows in size, it can produce a
variety of symptoms including:
* lump or thickening in the breast or underarm * change in size
or shape of the breast * nipple discharge or nipple turning
inward * redness or scaling of the skin or nipple * ridges or
pitting of the breast skin
If you experience these symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean
you have breast cancer, but you need to be examined by a doctor.
Breast cancer is very rare before age 20 and is rarely
diagnosed in women younger than age 25. Past that age, the
incidence rises steadily to reach a peak around the age of
menopause. The rate of increase is lessened after menopause, but
older women are still at increasing risk over time.
Although a specific cause for breast cancer has not been
identified, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood
that a woman will develop a breast cancer. These risks include:
* Maternal relative with breast cancer. * Women who start their
menstruation early and/or go into early menopause, increasing
the length of reproductive years, are at greater risk. *
Obesity. Women who are overweight are at increased risk * Women
who have never had children are at greater risk. * Women who had
their first child over age 30 are at greater risk. * Previous
breast cancer. * Previous endometrial cancer.
Aside from the genetic predisposition, the common factor in many
of these risks is increased endogenous estrogen exposure over a
long time.
It is recommended that women over 35 check their breasts
monthly. However, it is also important that all women do regular
breast checks. Your doctor can show you how to effectively check
your breasts. Any lump, regardless of size, should be reported
to your doctor. Many of these lumps are simply fatty lumps or
cysts but it is far better to be safe than sorry.
Catching breast cancer early makes a big difference in the type
of treatment needed as well as the overall prognosis.