4 Early Signs of Breast Cancer

In popular culture and general knowledge, the first indication of breast cancer is finding a lump in one of your breasts. While it’s true that this is a common and very probable early sign of breast cancer, it’s not the only one.

4 Early Signs of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer, though it affects many people, has become an incredibly treatable form of cancer, especially when caught in its first stages. There are even many ways of treating early or potential forms of breast cancer, and, according to Zenn Plastic Surgery, some women choose to have preventative mastectomies even if cancer is not present.

While regular check-ups and mammograms are, of course, the best way to catch breast cancer in its early stages, these warning signs may be an indication that you should arrange a visit with your doctor to make sure that breast cancer isn’t developing.

1: Changes to Nipple or Skin

Your nipples, while they may change slightly as you age, should remain fairly uniform in size, shape, and color. If there are sudden changes with your nipples or the skin of your breasts, this could be an early warning sign that cancer is present.

Redness, itchiness, and sucked-in or swollen nipples are some of these potential changes. In addition, if the skin around your nipple puckers or warps in a way that is inconsistent with aging, this may be a sign that cancer has started developing and changing the internal structure of your breast.

2: Swelling

While this isn’t as sure a sign as changes to your nipples, unusual swelling of your breasts is another potential early warning sign of breast cancer.

Though your breasts can swell and become tender due to stress, menstruation, or breastfeeding, if the swelling is unusual for your body, looks discolored, or lasts for longer than a week, you should contact your doctor.

Swelling is often caused by lumps or cancer deep in the breast, where you may not feel it in a routine self-check of your breasts. These deep lumps impede usual breast function, which causes painful swelling.

3: Nipple Discharge

Nipple discharge is another symptom that can be caused by several things, and it isn’t a particularly common symptom. It is, however, one of the more dramatic early warning signs, and so you should definitely be aware of it.

Clear or bloody discharge that occurs in only one breast is of particular concern since this indicates that the normal functions of one breast are being impeded.

4: Swollen Lymph Nodes

A more subtle sign that is often ignored, swollen and red lymph nodes are actually among the most common early warning signs. Unfortunately, they are also an indication of everything from ear infections to the flu, and so many people will disregard swollen lymph nodes as just a common illness.

If you are experiencing swollen lymph nodes while not feeling ill in any other way, performing self-examination of your breasts is a smart move. Your lymph nodes swelling is an indication that your immune system is attempting to fight off cancer and can give you a leg up in fighting this horrible disease.

What to Do Next

After you’ve spotted a potential early warning sign of breast cancer, you may be wondering what to do about it. The suspicion that you may have breast cancer can be a stressful one. What’s important to remember is that all of these early warning signs have other possible diagnoses, some of them completely benign.

In addition, these signs will indicate a very early form of breast cancer, one that has a high success rate in treatment. You should speak to your doctor as soon as possible in order to find out if you have an early stage of breast cancer and do develop a treatment plan that will restore your health.