Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer: What to Know

The National Breast Cancer Foundation says that when doctors find breast cancer early and it has not spread, patients have a 99 percent chance of surviving for five years. That’s why recognizing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and getting timely screening is critical. Advances in diagnostic mammography and ultrasound make it easier to detect changes early, when treatment is most effective.

How Common is Breast Cancer?

Most people know a family member or friend who has developed breast cancer. This is not surprising. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. Here are some breast cancer facts you should  know: 

• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.  
• 1 in 1,000 men are at risk of developing breast cancer.
  
  Here’s the good news: The 5-year survival rate of breast cancer is 99 percent when caught early. Advancements in early detection, such as breast ultrasound, and treatment have significantly increased survival rates for breast cancer in the last several years. 
  

What Is the Most Common Symptom of Breast Cancer?

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump. Fortunately, most breast lumps are benign. In fact, approximately 90 percent of breast lumps are not cancerous. They can form for many reasons, including cysts, infections, and normal hormonal changes that come with aging.

Can you have breast cancer without a lump? The answer is yes! An Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center/OSUCCC survey found that more than 90 percent of adults know a lump can mean breast cancer. However, less than 50 percent know that there are many other signs and symptoms of breast cancer. 

Other Common Signs and Symptoms of Cancer of the Breast

Being familiar with these other signs and symptoms of breast cancer helps with early detection.

• Swelling of all or part of a breast: You may not feel a lump. This could be accompanied by warmth, darkness or redness of the breast.
• Skin puckering or dimpling: May look like an orange peel. 
• Unexplained breast or nipple pain: Pain in one spot for no apparent reason. 
• Nipple or skin retraction: The nipple may turn inward or look flattened, or a “dent” in the breast may appear. 
• Nipple or breast skin changes: Changes may include scaliness, dryness, redness, flakiness and/or thickening. 
• Changes in breast skin color: For lighter skin tones, this may look pink or red. For people with brown or Black skin, the area may look purple or red or appear darker than usual. 
• Nipple discharge: Excluding breast milk, a sudden nipple discharge is a warning sign. 
• Swollen lymph nodes: swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone may indicate breast cancer and might appear before a lump is felt. 
  
  

  Diagnostic Mammogram and Ultrasound Screening

  Regular mammogram screenings for women over the age of 40 and ultrasound screenings for women of any age can help catch early changes that may be related to breast cancer. 

  Breast screenings have reduced deaths due to breast cancer by 43 percent since 1989. They are critical for detecting breast changes, which are then assessed further. 

  Diagnostic mammography and ultrasound technologies have become more precise over the years. State-of-the-art technology can detect cancer earlier and in all breast types. These tests can provide clear images of the breast.

  Getting screened is one of the most empowering things you can do for your health, and breast screening ultrasound through HerScan offers a convenient, comfortable, radiation-free way to stay proactive with your breast health. 

  Common Breast Changes You May Notice Over Time 

  Breast tissue changes significantly over time, especially in women. Breasts may become denser and change size and shape or develop more fatty tissue. Some of the common reasons breasts change over the years include the following.

  • Hormonal fluctuations: Normal hormone changes can make breasts feel sore or tender, especially before and during the menstrual cycle. You may feel a lump due to extra fluid in your breasts.
  • After menopause: After menopause, hormone levels drop, and breasts become less full and firm. Glandular tissue is replaced by fatty tissue, so breasts are less dense. The breasts may sag more, the nipples may become less pronounced and the skin may thin.
  • During pregnancy: Hormone changes (estrogen and progesterone) lead to the breasts becoming heavier and larger. The nipples and areola may become more prominent and darken. They may also leak colostrum, a type of pre-milk for the infant.
  • While breastfeeding: The breasts may be heavy and large due to milk production, and softer in between feedings. The nipples sometimes become cracked or sensitive. When the milk production ends, the breasts may change in shape and size and appear less firm. 
  • Weight loss or gain: Changes in weight affect the breasts, as well. Losing weight leads to smaller breasts, and gaining weight increases breast size. Breast density is altered either way.
  • Aging: As you age, the breasts lose firmness and size. Skin loses elasticity. The nipples may sag, and the areola shrinks. Around the age of menopause, breast lumps that are noncancerous cysts commonly develop.

  These are normal changes to the breasts, and they do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Knowing the normal changes in your breasts can help you notice changes that may not be normal.

  How to Be Proactive About Your Breast Health

  The best way to identify a change in your breasts is to become familiar with their normal appearance, shape, size, and feel. You are tasked with the critical job of performing monthly breast self-exams so you know when there are changes.

  Along with paying attention to your own baseline, consider routine ultrasound screenings. 

  A breast ultrasound through HerScan offers an easy, comfortable way to check your breasts for changes that you may not notice on your own. 

  Here are a few more ways you can help lower your breast cancer risk.

  • Exercise: Staying active helps control hormones, such as estrogen and insulin. These hormones contribute to cancer growth. Researchers say that regular exercise may lower the risk of breast cancer by around 20 percent compared to women who do not stay active. 
  • Limit alcohol consumption: Consuming alcohol leads to the circulation of the carcinogen acetaldehyde. It also increases the endogenous (natural) estrogen levels. These effects increase the risk of breast cancer. Women should limit alcohol to one drink per day. However, even one drink a day increases the risk by up to 10 percent compared to women who do not drink.
  • Maintain a Healthy Weight: The risk of breast cancer increases when you have more body fat, especially after menopause. Body fat triggers metabolic changes that increase insulin secretion. Insulin enhances signals that promote tumor growth.
  • Limit hormone therapy post menopause: There has been some debate about this. However, the current National Cancer Institute (NCI), WHI Findings indicate that breast cancer risks increase when combination hormone therapy begins after menopause. 
  • Consider breastfeeding: The risk of breast cancer decreases by at least 4 percent for a mother who breastfeed. Breastfeeding for at least 12 months reduces the risk of breast cancer by 26 percent. Hormonal changes, shifts in breast tissue and immune support from breast milk may lower breast cancer risk.
    

    
    Be Proactive in Caring for Your Health

    Developing a breast cancer screening plan is a gift to yourself as you proactively reduce the risks of breast cancer. 

    • Begin annual mammograms at the age of 40.
    • Get annual mammograms before the age of 40 if you have an inherited or genetic breast cancer risk.
    • Establish a schedule for routine screenings by a healthcare provider.
    • Add regular breast ultrasounds to your screening, especially if you have dense breast tissue. Combined with mammography, breast ultrasound can increase breast cancer detection rate up to 96%. 
    • Perform monthly self-exams of the breasts and stay aware of potential changes.

    Why HerScan for Breast Cancer Screening? 

    Screening ultrasound and mammogram tests are the best ways to find potential breast cancer. These tests can find changes before there are any signs. Ultrasound can detect breast abnormalities that a mammogram may not show clearly, especially in dense breast tissue. 

    HerScan offers stress-free ultrasound screening. Appointments are quick, typically around 20 minutes or less. You don’t need a doctor’s referral. You’ll be seen by highly skilled, certified Sonographers using advanced ultrasound equipment.