Noticing a lump when you are getting dressed. Someone says, "Hey, something's different about one breast in the mirror. Someone else feels completely fine and only learns about the cancer after a routine mammogram. There is no 'one size fits all' breast cancer story. This is because cancer can occur in any area of the breast and can have different symptoms. There are some changes that are apparent. Others are not so easy to overlook.
Why doctors want to know the type
The first step in diagnosis after breast cancer is discovered is to find out where the breast cancer originated. The breast has milk ducts and lobules, which make milk and other tissues that support them. Any of these regions can be the origin of cancer. The site can help to determine the type of breast cancer and make decisions for treatment.
The type most women hear about
In most cases, breast cancer starts in the milk ducts. This is known as ductal carcinoma. At times, abnormal cells stay and stay in the ducts. This is known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In other instances, the cancer invades the surrounding breast tissue. This type of breast cancer is known as invasive ductal carcinoma and is the most frequently diagnosed type of breast cancer. Several women find a lump. Some people will see changes on a screening mammogram before they have any symptoms.
When Cancer starts in the lobules
The lobules are the glands that make milk. If cancer develops here, it's known as lobular carcinoma. It does not always form a lump like other breast cancers. Rather, a woman may notice that one breast area is thicker than the rest of the breast, or that it feels just different. That change is hard to explain, but many women feel that there's something different when they're not quite sure what.
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Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of the disease that causes breast changes to be noticeable. It can give rise to no visible lump; instead, it may cause:
Redness
Swelling
Warmth
Thickened skin
An orange peel-like texture of skin
These variations may develop over a fairly brief time.
Changes worth paying attention to
Breast cancer doesn't produce the same symptoms in every woman. Some of the changes that lead women to seek medical advice include:
A new lump in the breast or underarm
Swelling in part of the breast
Changes in breast size or shape
Nipple discharge
A nipple that suddenly turns inward
Persistent skin changes
Thickening in one area of the breast
Some women experience several symptoms. Others notice only one.
No one knows your Breasts better than you
Not all breast changes happen because of cancer. Even so, don't ignore a change that doesn't go away just because it isn't painful or dramatic. Many women first notice a small but lasting change, such as a lump, an area of thickened tissue, or one breast looking different from the other. If you notice a change that doesn't improve, see a doctor. In many cases, the cause is not cancer, and the results can be reassuring. If it is cancer, finding it early can make treatment more effective.