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Overview
Breast cancer is a highly treatable disease if caught at an early stage. Therefore, the sooner you discover you may have signs and symptoms of breast cancer and seek help, the better your survival rate. Giving yourself a monthly self-exam is highly beneficial in that signs are discovered early, and you can get medical treatment.
Identification
Some signs to look out for are: itching of the breasts along with a rash, flattened or inverted nipples, or nipple discharge. Advice and testing should be sought from your health professional.
Effects
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include bruises on or around the breasts that change color and may even fade; however, the bruise doesn't go away or disappear. On discovery of small lumps in or around your breasts, it is prudent to seek medical help.
Size
Inflammatory breast cancer is a particularly aggressive type of cancer characterized by a sudden swelling of the breasts, not due to menses, accompanied by a red or pink rash. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms are often mistaken by physicians for breast infections and treated with a course of antibiotics, which is futile. Always get a second opinion if faced with a similar situation--it may save your life.
Features
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in women include thickening of the skin either on the breasts or under the armpits. There may be dimpling of the skin on the breast, around the breasts or under the armpits. The word for this dimpling is called peau d'orange.
Significance
Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck or under the arms may be a sign of breast cancer and shouldn't be ignored. Most of the signs and symptoms mentioned are detectable through a monthly self-exam. Self-exams should be done while laying flat on a bed or the floor and placing your arms outstretched behind your head as if you are sunbathing. Take the right forefinger and index finger. Use them to feel around your left breast in circular motions. Repeat the procedure with the other breast using the left fingers. Any abnormal skin, lumps, rashes, or dimpling requires medical attention.
