How to detect breast cancer at an early stage

One of the most common types of cancers primarily found in women, breast cancer is usually not as easy to know about as other kinds of cancers and tumors, in terms of symptoms. However, if early detection of breast cancer can be done, it saves up a lot of hassle of treatments and stress.

The symptoms of breast cancer are usually very minor and can be hard and very minute to find. However, if one is able to witness these changes in her breast, there are strong chances of her suffering from breast cancer and should immediately consult a doctor regarding the same and following treatment procedures.

Following are the most common symptoms by which one can detect breast cancer at a very early stage, which if known or felt at the right time, will save a lot of resources:

  •       If there is any kind of swelling or redness occurring in one or both the breasts, there are strong chances that it is the same spot where the tumor might be in the process of formation.

  •       Women usually have both their breasts similar in size, however, if one is feeling that one of her breasts is showing sign of growth in terms of its size, this might be an unusual swelling occurring due to tumor.

  •       When the nipple of one or both the breasts shows signs of dissimilarity or appearance, there is a strong chance that the tumor might be in formation around the area of that particular nipple(s).

  •       If the nipple discharges some other kind of fluid apart from breast milk, it shows that the affected breast(s) is unable to form breast milk and this particular fluid might be formed due to the formation of tumor inside.

  •       Pain is one of the easy forms to detect whether something is wrong in one particular part of body or not. In the case of breast cancer too, one can suffer from gradually increasing pain in one or both the breasts.

  •       If one is able to feel any kind of lump or swelling after touching her one or both the breasts, it shows that the tumor has grown in size big enough to directly be felt.

  •       While one can detect this by feeling whether there is any kind of lump in one or both the breasts, if there is no lump to be felt, but an unusual swelling in a part or whole breast, it is a clear sign of invasive breast cancer.

  •       If one is feeling any kind of irritation or swelling on or around one or both the breasts, it signals that the breast tumor is forming such kind of symptom.

  •       If the nipple(s) of one or both the breasts are retracting inwards, this might happen as a result of an increase in the swelling of tumor, which might be forcing the nipple(s) to not be in their optimal situation.

  •       Usually, nipples in humans are in light or dark brown in color. However, if one is sensing any change in the color of her nipple(s) – they might be turning reddish or scaly – it is a clear sign of tumor.

  •       If one is feeling that her nipple(s) of one or both the breasts have shifted off from their usual positioning, it shows that the formation of tumor inside the concerned breast(s) is forcing such a thing to happen.

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  •       If one can feel that the surface of her breast(s) is showing sign of formation of a ridged pattern unlike the usual soft touch, this hardening of skin is diagnosed as a sign of breast cancer.

  •       Apart from swelling or pain, if one is feeling that one or both of her breasts are feeling heavier than the usual feel, it usually happens due to the swelling of tumor inside one or both of them.

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All these are preliminary symptoms of both invasive as well as inflammatory breast cancer, which are quite minute and might not be too noticeable at the very first place. However, such careful observations, if done rightly, will not only save a lot of possible medication but also mental stress. If one feels any of these symptoms, it is advisable to consult the respective doctor for further processes regarding diagnosis and treatment, including all the essential check-ups.

OncologyHoney Mathur