Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. When breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it can cause changes as listed below. Check your breasts for any of the following changes:
- A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the
underarm area
- A change in the size or shape of the breast
- Nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple
may be pulled
back or inverted into the breast
- Ridges or pitting of the breast (the skin may look
like the skin of an orange)
- A change in the way the skin of the breast, areola,
or nipple looks or feels (for example, warm, swollen, red, or scaly)
If you find any of these changes, you should see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible. These symptoms may not mean cancer, but it is important to have your breast examined so that if there is a problem it can be found and treated as early as possible.
Source:
National Cancer Institute, 2003
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09/28/2003 03:34 PM