What Are 7 Common Symptoms And Indicators of Breast Cancer
According to a new study from the American Cancer Society (ACS), in 2024, an estimated 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. And while it is considered rare, in 2024, 2,790 men will also be diagnosed with breast cancer. It is always important to look for the signs.
Most people know a key sign of breast cancer is an additional lump or mass — though most breast lumps are NOT cancer. A painless, hard mass with irregular edges is reported to be more likely to be cancer, but some breast cancers can also be soft, round, or even possibly painful.
Additional warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women, and although having regular screening tests for cancer is important, mammograms do not find every breast cancer.
Knowing this, it’s important to know how you normally look and feel, so you’ll be aware of any changes and symptoms that may occur.
According to the ACS, other possible symptoms to look out for are as follows:
- Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no lump is felt)
- Skin dimpling (sometimes looking like an orange peel)
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple retraction (turning inward)
- Nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking, or thickened
- Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone (Sometimes this can be a sign of breast cancer spreading even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.)
The ACS notes that many of the above symptoms can also be caused by benign breast conditions. But, it is still important to have any new mass or change checked by an experienced health care professional.
