Breast Cancer – 3 Simple Tips For Early Detection

Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast of women and men. Cells will form into tissues, and tissues will create organ of the body. The normal cell will grow and divide to form new cells then die in the old age. New cells will replace the dead cells. Cancer cells don’t behave this way. They will just divide themselves uncontrollably, and create a mass of tissue called tumor.

Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer but malignant tumors are cancer. Malignant tumors sometimes grow back after surgery. These cells can damage nearby tissues and organs as they are able to spread to other parts of the body (metastasis).

Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer, and the fifth most common cause of cancer’s death. Fortunately, now it is easier to be treated and often can be cured if it’s found early. Here are 3 simple tips you can use for early detection:

1. A Lump or a Thickening

The earliest stage of breast cancer may have no sign at all since the cancer cells are too small to be detected. The most common symptom is a lump or a thickening in the breast. The lump can be soft, rounded and tender, or it can be hard. Those signs can be associated with pain or without one. It can also change the skin, the form or the size of the breast. Fluid may come out of the nipple. A lump found in the lymph node located either under the armpit or above the collarbone can also indicate breast cancer.

2. Skin Inflammation

Breast cancer cells may invade the dermal lymphatic (the small lymph vessel in the skin of the breast), and resemble skin inflammation called inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Symptoms of IBC include pain, swelling, warmth and redness throughout the breast, and orange peel texture to the skin.

3. Eczema Appearance

Another symptom of complex breast cancer is Paget’s disease of the breast. It may have the appearance of rash like eczema, mostly on just one nipple. Because of its seemingly innocuous and surface appearance, it is often detected very late and becomes fatal.

In further development, breast cancer occasionally spreads to other parts of the body called as metastatic disease (stage 4). Symptom of this metastatic cancer depends on its location. Common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung and brain.

Most of the time it will spread to vertebrae, and to long bones such as arms, legs and ribs. When it spreads to bone, usually it eats away healthy bone, causing weak spots and bones can be broken easily. At this stage, patients will experience so much pain.

Breast cancer treatment depends on many factors such as the type and the stage of the cancer. Treatment options may involve surgery (removal of cancer), radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy.

Breast Cancer – 3 Simple Tips For Early Detection