Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast
cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly-inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of
skin. In those with distant spread of the
disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellow skin
Signs and symptoms
Breast cancer most commonly presents as a lump that
feels different from the rest of the breast tissue. More than 80% of cases are
discovered when a person detects such a lump with the fingertips.The earliest
breast cancers, however, are detected by a mammogram. Lumps found in
lymph nodes located in the armpits may also indicate breast cancer.
Indications of breast cancer other than a lump may include
thickening different from the other breast tissue, one breast becoming larger
or lower, a nipple changing position or shape or becoming inverted, skin
puckering or dimpling, a rash on or around a nipple, discharge from nipple/s,
constant pain in part of the breast or armpit and swelling beneath the armpit
or around the collarbone Pain ("mastodynia") is an unreliable tool in
determining the presence or absence of breast cancer, but may be indicative of
other breast health issues.
Another symptom complex of breast cancer is Paget's disease
of the breast. This syndrome presents as skin changes resembling eczema; such
as redness, discoloration or mild flaking of the nipple skin. As Paget's
disease of the breast advances, symptoms may include tingling, itching,
increased sensitivity, burning, and pain. There may also be discharge from the
nipple. Approximately half the women diagnosed with Paget's disease of the breast
also have a lump in the breast.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer presents with similar effects. Inflammatory
Breast Cancer is a rare (only seen in less than 5% of breast cancer
diagnosis) yet aggressive form of breast cancer characterized by the swollen,
red areas formed on the top of the Breast. The visual effects of Inflammatory
Breast Cancer is a result of a blockage of lymph vessels by cancer cells. This
type of breast cancer is seen in more commonly diagnosed in younger ages, obese
women and African American women. As inflammatory breast cancer does not
present as a lump there can sometimes be a delay in diagnosis
In rare cases, what initially appears as a fibroadenoma (hard, movable non-cancerous
lump) could in fact be a phyllode tumor. Phyllodes tumors are formed
within the stroma (connective
tissue) of the breast and contain glandular as well as stromal tissue.
Phyllodes tumors are not staged in the usual sense; they are classified on the
basis of their appearance under the microscope as benign, borderline or
malignant.
Malignant tumors can result in metastatic tumors— secondary
tumors (originating from the primary tumor) that spread beyond the site of
origination. The symptoms caused by metastatic breast cancer will depend on the
location of metastasis. Common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung,
and brain. When cancer has reached such an invasive state, it is categorized as
a stage 4 cancer, cancers of this state are oftentimes fatal Common
symptoms of stage 4 cancer include unexplained weight loss, bone and joint
pain, jaundice and neurological symptoms. These symptoms are called non-specific
symptoms because they could be manifestations of many other illnesses Rarely
breast cancer can spread to exceedingly uncommon sites such as peripancreatic
lymph nodes causing biliary obstruction leading to diagnostic difficulties.
Most symptoms of breast
disorders, including most lumps, do not turn out to represent underlying breast
cancer. Less than 20% of lumps, for example, are cancerous, and benign
breast diseases such as mastitis and fibroadenoma of the breast are more
common causes of breast disorder symptoms.
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