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What to Watch for: Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Visible symptoms don’t accompany every case of breast cancer, but you should always take note of certain indications.
Today, approximately three million women in the United States are living with breast cancer. Of those, two million have been
diagnosed while one million do not yet know they have the disease. And, according to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance,
Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER), if current rates stay the same, one in eight women will develop breast cancer
during her lifetime.
Since early breast cancer usually does not cause pain and may cause no symptoms at all, regular mammograms are imperative.
And although some breast cancers never cause indications that there’s a problem, you should still watch for certain signs
and symptoms.
In fact, in a recent NBC 10 news report, a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital breast surgeon talked about the symptoms of a specific type of breast cancer: inflammatory
breast cancer.
Dr. Anne Rosenberg explained that inflammatory breast cancer involves the lymphatic system and, because it doesn’t always
include a lump, it can be difficult to detect on a mammogram. Thus, it’s critical to identify and address symptoms of inflammatory
breast cancer, such as red, swollen breasts; itching; tenderness or pain; breasts that are warm to the touch; and an inverted
nipple. In addition, the texture of the breast may become similar to that of an orange peel.
Of course, inflammatory breast cancer is just one form of this disease, and those are just a few of the possible symptoms.
We encourage you to perform monthly self-checks, get regular mammograms, and be aware of these signs and symptoms of breast
cancer:
- A lump or thickening – such as a mass, skin irritation or distortion – in or near the breast or in the underarm area
- A change in the size or shape of the breast
- A change in the color or feel of the skin of the breast, areola or nipple, which may appear dimpled, puckered or scaly
- Nipple discharge, erosion, inversion or tenderness
- If you notice any of these changes, please consult a physician.
Make an appointment with a Jefferson physician
online or by calling
1-800-JEFF-NOW.
