A LUMP is the sign most of us know to watch out for when it comes to breast cancer.
But, there are other lesser know signs that can signal an early warning of the deadly disease.
To mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are reminding you of all the signs you should be checking your breasts for, on a monthly basis.
One early – but lesser-known – sign of an aggressive form of breast cancer is a red rash or group of spots.
A lot of the time, red patches on your boobs will be completely innocent.
They can be caused by anything from the detergent you wash your bra with, to chafe-induced runner’s acne.
Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)
Unlike other forms of cancer, people with IBC don’t typically have breast lumps.
Symptoms of the disease instead are:
- rapid increase in breast size and feels heavy
- suddenly inverted nipple
- swelling and redness that affects more than a third of the breast
- breast skin develops an orange peel-like appearance
- redness and warmth of the skin on the breast
- breast pain
- itchiness
Source: Cancer.gov
But these spots can also be a typical feature of inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC.
IBC is a rare but aggressive form of the illness; despite only accounting for up to four per cent of breast cancer cases in the US, it causes up to ten per cent of all breast cancer deaths.
And IBC isn’t the only variation of the disease for which red spots can be an early symptom.
Paget’s disease is a breast cancer that is more common in people over the age of 57, and again, it’s pretty rare.
Red rashes can be a sign of Paget’s, which tends to start by affecting the skin of the actual nipple before spreading to the areola (the dark skin around the nipple).
Paget’s tends to only affect one nipple – not both.
As well as scaly, red, dry, itchy skin around the affected area (it can be mistaken for things like eczema), other symptoms include yellowish fluid or blood coming out of the nipple.
As one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, it’s crucial we know exactly what to look out for.
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One in three women fail to regularly check, and a fifth of these women say it is because they don’t know how to do it.
Mr Kislaya Thakur, an expert at BMI The Blackheath Hospital in South London, said: “The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump usually found by patients themselves.
“However other symptoms can indicate breast cancer.
“These include blood stained nipple discharge, nipple inversion or flattening, dimpling or tethering – including an orange-peel appearance – of the skin over the breast, lumps in the armpit or neck, or any redness which may suggest inflammation or persistent pain.”
Of course, there are a host of reasons why you might find a lump, dimpling or nipple discharge other than cancer, but it’s always worth getting any changes checked out by a GP immediately.
Other signs include:
Change in breast size or shape
Breasts can swell with pregnancy, breastfeeding and periods. But changes can also be indicative of something more sinister – you’ll know what’s usual for you. Get anything else checked.
Nipple discharge
If a liquid comes out without you squeezing your nipple, and you’re not breastfeeding, get it checked – especially if its blood.
Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone
Lumps are the most common sign of breast cancer but they don’t always have to appear in the breast.
Breast tissue can be found under armpits and up to the collarbone – so make sure you check those areas during your self-examinations.
Change in skin texture
If the skin around your nipple starts to dimple or feel a bit like orange peel, it could be a sign of cancer.
A recent survey by Breast Cancer Care found that one in six women didn’t know that that could be a sign of the disease.
An inverted nipple
Any changes to your breasts need to be checked as soon as you notice them. If you’ve always had inverted nipples, fine. If they suddenly seem to be pulled inwards, it could be a warning sign.
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Constant pain
While pain in the breast area is really common, if it doesn’t disappear after a reasonable amount of time, get it checked at your GP.
Remember, if anything about your breasts changes, it’s always worth getting checked over by your doctor.
How to prevent breast cancer
The causes of breast cancer aren’t fully understood yet, so it’s not known if it can be prevented altogether – but there are a couple of things you can do to minimise your chances:
Diet and lifestyle
Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are recommended for all women as they can help prevent many conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer.
Studies have looked at the link between breast cancer and diet, and although there are no definite conclusions, there are benefits for women who:
- maintain a healthy weight
- exercise regularly
- have a low intake of saturated fat and alcohol
It’s also been suggested that regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by as much as a third.
If you’ve been through the menopause, it’s particularly important that you’re not overweight or obese. This is because these conditions cause more oestrogen to be produced by your body, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Breastfeeding
Studies have shown women who breastfeed are statistically less likely to develop breast cancer than those who don’t.
The reasons aren’t fully understood, but it could be because women don’t ovulate as regularly while they’re breastfeeding and oestrogen levels remain stable.
There are a number of treatments open to those women who have an increased risk of developing the disease.
Your level of risk is determined by factors such as your age, your family’s medical history, and the results of genetic tests.
The two main treatments are surgery to remove the breasts (mastectomy) or medication.
You can find out more from the NHS.
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News Pictures The surprising symptom that can be an early sign you have breast cancer
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
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Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NINTCHDBPICT0004261039992.jpg?strip=all&w=960
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