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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it’s important to take the lessons learned this month into every month of the year to make sure you are able to screen and catch problems before they get worse. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is just second to skin cancer in women. Learn the early signs of breast cancer so that you are empowered to take control over your health.
Early detection is key: What are early signs of breast cancer
Catching breast cancer early is critical in the fight against it. The earlier you can identify a cancerous lump, the better your chances of survival are. When doing a self-exam at home, there are several key indicators that suggest it is time to get a mammogram and see your doctor.
The four early signs of breast cancer include:
- Changes in your breast size and shape
- Pain that suddenly appears in the breast with no known cause
- Nipple discharge that isn’t breast milk — this includes blood
- Lump in breast or underarm that wasn’t previously there or has grown in size
How to do a self exam: What do breast lumps feel like
According to The Medical Group of South Florida, 80% of breast lumps end up being benign. However, finding a lump can be unnerving and create a lot of stress until it is examined by a doctor. This is why a self exam is so important.
Most breast lumps are shaped like a ball or sphere with cancerous ones usually not taking a distinct shape. Lumps are often mobile, meaning you can feel them moving about in the soft tissue of the breast rather than stuck in one spot. Cancerous lumps tend to feel firm and solid and may be painful when palpated though most are painless.
Tumors can vary widely in size and your breast size and sensitivity can impact when and what you feel. For the most part, a lump needs to be about one centimeter in diameter for you to detect it. Detection is easier in smaller breasts than larger ones.
According to Dr. Tabitha Carnie, M.D., you can also notice visual signs of lumps in the breast. “There may be skin irritation or dimpling. The nipple may retract or there may be swelling on the breast or under the arms,” she told Mom.com.
Where do you typically find breast cancer lumps?
There is no set pattern of where cancerous lumps are found in the breast. Some breast cancer tumors are found under the armpit, while others are found around the nipple. Still others can be found anywhere in the soft tissue of the breast. This is why regular self-exams are so important. You need to learn what your breast normally feels like and learn to differentiate what is abnormal for your body.
It is common for women to have cysts, which are fluid-filled lumps, in their breasts. Depending on the size and discomfort caused, a doctor may drain the cyst of fluid. Cysts are typically benign and don’t cause any long-term problems.
It can’t be stressed enough, if something doesn’t feel right, seek the help of a doctor. Monica Monfre’s sister ended up dying because she ignored one of the main signs of breast cancer. "She never thought to mention the lump in her breast; after all she thought it was a clogged milk duct since she was still breastfeeding,” Monfre told Mom.com.
Questions to ask an oncologist for breast cancer
It’s important to see a doctor whenever you detect anything unusual with your breasts. Your doctor will order a mammogram and may also biopsy the lump so that you know exactly what you’re dealing with. If it is determined that your lump is malignant, you will be referred to an oncologist to review the next steps.
While you probably have a lot of questions swirling in your head, there are some specific things you’ll want to ask your doctor so that you can fully assess your situation and prognosis.
Questions to ask your oncologist according to the American Cancer Society:
- What type of breast cancer is it?
- Where exactly is it and how big is the cancer?
- Do we know if the breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs?
- What stage of cancer do I have and what does that mean for treatment?
- What other tests are necessary to develop a treatment plan?
- What does hormone receptor status mean and where am I with that? (When your breast cancer has estrogen or progesterone receptors, hormones attaching to them can fuel cancer growth.)
- What does HER2 status mean and where am I with that? (Found on the outside of all breast cells, higher levels of HER2 need to be specifically targeted for optimal treatment and slow the spread of the cancer.)
- What are my chances of survival based on how far along my cancer is?
- What is genetic testing and should I consider it?
- How do I get a copy of my pathology report?
- Who do I speak with regarding how my insurance coverage works?
Take action to get an annual mammogram and do regular self exams to identify abnormalities early on.
