WYOMING – While a new lump remains the most recognized symptom of breast cancer, medical experts emphasize the importance of knowing additional warning signs to enable early detection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists warning signs including “new lump in the breast or underarm,” “thickening or swelling of part of the breast,” “irritation or dimpling of breast skin” and “redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.”
According to the American Cancer Society, “the most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass (although most breast lumps are not cancer). A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can also be soft, round, tender, or even painful.”
Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone can sometimes indicate breast cancer spread before the original tumor is large enough to be felt, the organization notes.
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation reports less than half of adults recognize symptoms beyond lumps.
Additional warning signs include changes in breast size or shape, nipple changes such as inversion or flattening, nipple discharge other than breast milk and persistent pain in the breast or armpit.
The CDC notes “most breast lumps are caused by other medical conditions” such as fibrocystic breast condition and cysts.
The American Cancer Society emphasizes that “screening mammography can often help find breast cancer early, before any symptoms appear. Finding breast cancer early gives you a better chance of successful treatment.”
Medical professionals urge women to familiarize themselves with how their breasts normally look and feel to more easily detect changes. Anyone noticing unusual breast changes should consult a healthcare provider promptly for evaluation.
