Breast cancer can cause several additional changes to the skin around the breast. In some cases, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms, but a doctor will identify its existence on a mammogram. Screening for breast cancer as recommended by a doctor can help identify this condition at its earliest and most treatable stage.
Possible symptoms may also have an underlying non-cancerous cause. However, people with these symptoms should speak with their doctor in case tests for non-cancerous and cancerous conditions are needed.
One of the most striking symptoms is changes in the texture of the skin.
Breast cancer can cause changes and inflammation in skin cells that can lead to changes in texture. Examples of these texture changes include: scaly skin around the nipple and areola, as if the skin is sunburned or extremely dry, or thickening of the skin anywhere on the breast. These changes can also be itchy. Changes in the skin can be symptomatic of a rare type of breast cancer called Paget’s disease.
Changes in texture can also occur as a result of benign skin conditions, such as dermatitis and eczema.
Another symptom is discharge from the nipple.
The discharge can vary in color from clear to milky to yellow, green, or red. It is normal for women who are breastfeeding to have a milky discharge from the nipples, but it is advisable to consult a doctor about any other discharge from the nipple. Although most nipple discharge is not cancerous, it can mean breast cancer in some people.
Another symptom is related to changes in the lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are small, rounded collections of immune system tissue that filter fluid and capture potentially harmful cells. These include bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells.
If a cancer cell leaves the breast, the first place it travels to is the lymph node region in the armpit on the same side as the affected breast. This can lead to swelling in this area. In addition to the swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, they can be seen around the collarbone. They usually look like small, firm, swollen bumps and may be tender to the touch. However, lymphatic tissue can also change due to sinus infections or other completely unrelated diseases. It is obviously advisable to speak with a doctor about these changes in order to identify a potential cause.
Today we review everything you should know about this type of cancer.
