THE WARNING SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER: DO YOU KNOW ALL 9?

Depending on your age, lifestyle or family history you might be at an elevated risk of breast cancer. It is important to know your own breasts. Therefore you should perform regular self-exams checking the look and feel of your own breasts. This way you will quickly notice if anything has changed. While changes to a breast may be harmless, they may also indicate the presence of breast cancer. Always discus any changes with a health care professional. Do not delay this. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the better the health outcomes: less invasive treatment and more chance of survival. These 9 warning signs of breast cancer should be common knowledge. Do you know them already?

1/ You are sensing a lump, swelling, or unusual pain in your breast

Not all lumps are malignant and in the case of early breast cancer you may not always feel anything. Unusual and new lumps, swelling and abnormal pain sensation are sufficient cause to get an extra check-up.

2/ You are detecting a lump on your breast

At the sight of a visible lump many women would conclude breast cancer, yet even in this case it might still be something else like a connective tissue nodule or a small fat tissue deposit, for example. Always let a medical professional examine the size, shape, hardness and rigidity of the lump.

3/ You are noticing a lump under your armpit

You should also keep an eye on your armpits as well as the area above your collarbone. Glands in your armpit area can swell up as a result of inflammation. Are you noticing an unusual lump or are you over the age of fifty, please consult your doctor.

4/ There is a dent in your breast

Small pits, dents or dimples in your breast will be more noticeable when lifting your arms. Much like lumps and swellings these may be perfectly benign, however sometimes they may prove to be malignant. An expert opinion is needed.

5/ The shape of your breast is changed

The shape of both breasts not being perfectly identical is considered normal. Yet, if a sudden change of shape occurs this could be a reason to seek further medical inspection.

6/ A nipple is suddenly inverted

Nipples come in all shapes, sizes and positions. Same here: get a check-up if any unusual changes occur. For instance, all of a sudden your nipple is flattened or seems to be inverted.

7/ Your nipple starts discharging

Any form of discharge outside a recent pregnancy or as part of breastfeeding is a cause of concern. Inflammation or a change in your hormone levels might have a part in this. However, it’s always better to play it safe.

8/ Your skin feels uneven or hard

Is the skin on your breast showing as scaly or red-ish then it’s considered orange peel skin. The term is usually coined to describe cellulitis on legs and thighs. However, it should set off an alarm bell though when it occurs on your breasts.

9/ The skin of your breast has changed colour

Pink, blue or green patches of skin: if your breasts start showing an unusual colour, it could just simply be down to wearing an ill-fitted bra. Is it still present with an adjusted bra size get a doctor to examine it further.