Breast cancer is the number one cancer that kills women. While age,diet, physical activity, and lifestyle play an important role in development of breast cancer, an estimated 15 percent of women fall victim due to genetic susceptibility.
Learning to recognize the physical signs of breast cancer may save your life – early diagnosis is key to treatment and recovery. The warning signs of breast cancer are usually visual which can include lumps found within the breast and nearby lymph nodes. Non visual signs include pain and skin irritation around the breast area.
6 Warning Signs of Breast Cancer You Shouldn’t Ignore
1 Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast.
ou should always perform a monthly self-examination of your breasts. Be sure to feel all areas of the breasts and underarms for any abnormalities. A painless lump or thickening in the breast or the armpit is one of the most common breast cancer symptoms. If you discover a lump, call your physician immediately.
2 A change in the size or shape of the breast.
It’s common for a breast tumor to alter the shape or size of an affected breast
3 Nipple discharge or tenderness
Discharge from one nipple may be a sign of breast cancer, especially if it appears without squeezing the nipple and is blood-stained.
4 An inverted nipple
5 A sore or ulcer on the breast that does not heal
6 A change in the way the skin of the breast, nipple, or areola.
The darker area of skin around the nipple — looks or feels. For example, the breast may feel warm, tender, or swollen, or look red and scaly
Late signs and symptoms
As the cancer grows larger, these are the symptoms than can occur:
- an “orange peel” texture to the skin
- bone pain
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- buildup of fluid around the lungs
- headache
- double vision
- muscle weakness
Symptoms of breast cancer in men include a lump in the breast, nipple pain and tenderness, fluid from the nipple, inversion or retraction of the nipple, and sores around the nipple.
According to recent research published in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) journal, Environmental Health Perspectives,3 you can reduce your risk of breast cancer by avoiding certain chemicals found in common, everyday products. As reported by Rodale:4
“Because the study found that animal tests are able to predict likely human breast carcinogens, the new report could serve as a major step forward in breast cancer prevention, expanding the list of possible breast cancer triggers. That’s especially important because only about 10 percent of breast cancers are genetic in nature—scientists believe environment plays a huge role…
‘Every woman in America has been exposed to chemicals that may increase her risk of getting breast cancer. Unfortunately, the link between toxic chemicals and breast cancer has largely been ignored,’ says Julia Brody, PhD, study author and executive director at Silent Spring Institute. ‘Reducing chemical exposures could save many, many women’s lives.’”