Breast cancer
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
Many women learn that they have breast cancer before they get any symptoms. They usually find out after they have a mammogram.
(A mammogram is an
X-ray of the breast.) Mammograms can reveal lumps that are too small to feel.
X-ray
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
If you have breast cancer you may notice:
- A lump or thickening in your breast
- A change in how your breast feels or looks. For example, it may feel heavy, warm or uneven, or the skin may look pitted
- Changes in your nipple. For example, the nipple might be pulled back into the breast (known as an inverted nipple)
- Discharge from your nipple, such as blood
- A rash that makes your nipple red and scaly. It may just be
eczema
Eczema is a very itchy rash. It may be dark and bumpy and release fluid. Scratching makes it worse. You can get eczema anywhere on your body, but it is most common on the wrists, the insides of the elbows and the backs of the knees. If you have asthma or allergies you are more likely to get eczema than someone who doesn't have these conditions.eczema, but it could be a sign of a rare type of cancer known as Paget's disease of the nipple.
Source:
American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer.
March 2008. Available at http://www.cancer.org (accessed on 7 May 2009).
American Cancer Society.
American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of cancer.
March 2008. Available at http://www.cancer.org (accessed on 7 May 2009).
Dimples in the skin (left) and changes in the shape of the breast (right) are symptoms of breast cancer.
However, women who are at an increased risk of breast cancer should talk with a doctor who specializes in breast cancer. They
may need to start having mammograms sooner and more often.
2
Source:
National Cancer Institute.
NCI statement on mammography screening.
Available at http://www.cancer.gov (accessed on 7 May 2009).
National Cancer Institute.
NCI statement on mammography screening.
Available at http://www.cancer.gov (accessed on 7 May 2009).
Sources for the information on this page:
This information was last updated on May 11, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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