Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in our country as in the whole world. Today, one out of every 8 women has the risk of developing breast cancer. Despite its high incidence, breast cancer is a disease that can be diagnosed early and has a high treatment success when followed in accordance with screening programs. For this reason, when the symptoms of the disease appear, it is important to go through a doctor’s control without wasting time. Professor of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Güven Hospital. Dr. Ali Uğur Emre gave information about the symptoms of breast cancer special for “01-31 October Breast Cancer Month”.
It is necessary to take precautions as soon as cancer symptoms appear in the breast.
Thanks to the social awareness about breast cancer, the implementation of cancer screening programs, and the widespread use of breast ultrasonography and mammography, which have a very important role in early diagnosis, many breast cancer patients can be diagnosed early and have treatment opportunities. In a disease where early diagnosis is so important, periodic screening is a responsibility that every woman should do for her own health. In addition, there are some symptoms of breast cancer. It is also extremely important to evaluate these symptoms and to go through a physician’s control as soon as possible. Although these signs and symptoms do not necessarily mean that there is underlying breast cancer, the best approach is to clarify whether such a situation exists.
Not all breast masses are cancer precursors
Masses in the breast can have many causes. These masses may be benign or may have emerged as the first sign of breast cancer. It is easier for women who do breast self-examination regularly to notice new lumps in the breast. Hard, uncleared, non-moving and painless masses raise higher suspicion of breast cancer. However, all breast masses should be examined by a specialist and evaluated radiologically by ultrasonography and / or mammography. As a result of the evaluation of these masses, the masses deemed necessary can be diagnosed quickly by biopsy.
Withdrawal in the nipple can be a warning for cancer
In women, the nipple can sometimes be inverted during the development of the breast, and sometimes a normal nipple can be withdrawn later. Developmental withdrawals have no clinical significance. The subsequent ingestion of a normal nipple is a warning finding for breast cancer. Although it may occur due to some inflammatory diseases and previous surgeries, when an ingrown nipple is noticed, it should be investigated for the presence of breast cancer. Similarly, retractions and collapses that develop later on may occur in the breast skin. In this case, an examination and radiological examination is required against the possibility of a tumor in the breast making this shrinkage in the skin.
Shape and color changes in the breast should be evaluated with a detailed breast examination.
Breast is a symmetrical organ. There may be slight size differences between both breasts. However, in case of abnormal growth in any of the two breasts with normal appearance and symmetry, or loss of symmetry between the two breasts, and in the color changes in the breast skin, a detailed breast examination is required. Breast symmetry can be evaluated more clearly by looking at the position of both nipples. Another noticeable change in the breast skin is the edema of the skin and an orange peel appearance. The enlargement of the vessels on the breast in a way that did not exist before may be a sign of cancer.
Although nipple discharge is generally harmless, it can be a cancer signal
Discharge from the nipple is one of the most common complaints in breast clinics. Every woman is likely to have a discharge from the nipple at some point in her life. These currents are mostly harmless currents that accumulate in milk ducts. Drugs used, hormonal changes, and comorbid diseases can be listed among the causes of discharge. Some of the nipple discharge may also be a sign of breast cancer. Breast cancers, most of which start in the ducts of the breast, can cause bloody discharge from the nipple. Nipple discharge is evaluated by the physician and in the presence of suspicious findings, the cause can be revealed radiologically and necessary treatments can be performed. The breast should not be compressed to see if there is nipple discharge.
Attention should be paid to the swelling under the armpits
Since the lymph spread of the diseases that occur in the breast is mostly under the armpit, it is also extremely important to evaluate the swelling that occurs here in terms of breast cancer. It is very important to evaluate whether these masses, most of which are due to enlarged lymph nodes, have grown due to any inflammatory event or whether breast cancer is a result of lymph spread by a specialist.
Breast cancer can cause breast pain in some cases
Although breast cancer is often a painless disease, pain in the breast and nipple due to some special conditions should also be considered.
