Key symptoms to keep your eye on
ACCORDING to the Breast Cancer Network Australia, one in eight Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85, and about 48 people a day will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women, with the estimation of over 17,500 Australian women being diagnosed with the disease in 2017, and 144 men.
While there has been a massive influx of support and persistence towards eradicating, or at least lessening, the effect of breast cancer, the statistics are still devastating.
However, a diagnosis in the early stages of the illness is generally an excellent sign towards achieving a successful treatment, and this is why it’s so important to know what to look for.
While knowing the symptoms of breast cancer is no replacement for regular mammograms and tests, here are some of the most common symptoms to look for to make sure breast cancer doesn’t devastate you and your loved ones further:
A lump in the breast
It’s important to know what your breasts look and feel like in order to recognise changes.
Some lumps and masses are benign, and can appear hard and painless.
Regardless, if you feel a lump in your breast, have it checked by a doctor as soon as possible.
Breast, collarbone or armpit swelling
Swelling in or around these areas can be inflammatory breast cancer, or breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes.
See a doctor immediately if this occurs.
Redness and thickening of skin
If your skin becomes red or feels tough, similar to an orange peel, contact your doctor.
This can be caused by mastitis, so if you’re prescribed medication to treat this and your symptoms don’t improve after a week, have it checked again.
Breast warmth and itching
This can also be seen as a symptom of mastitis but, if the antibiotics don’t work, see your doctor again.
Changes in nipples
Some symptoms of breast cancer include nipples inverting or the skin around the breasts becoming red or scaly.
See a doctor immediately if this is the case.
Nipple discharge
Besides milk, discharge from the nipple can be a symptom of breast cancer, injury, infection or a benign tumour.
Have your doctor check it out.
Breast pain
While it’s very common and harmless to have your breasts hurt before your menstrual cycle, it is a different story when the discomfort is constant.