Breast cancer history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Soroush Seifirad, M.D.[2] Mirdula Sharma, MBBS [3]

Overview

Symptoms of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, discharge from the nipple, and thickening of the skin.

History

  • The medical history of a person's family may also help the doctor to diagnose breast cancer. [1]
  • In taking a medical history, the doctor will ask questions about:
  • A personal history of
  • Breast disease or breast cancer
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Previous radiation therapy to the chest
  • Signs and symptoms that may suggest breast cancer
  • When was the lump first noticed?[2]
  • Has it changed in size or in any other way? This includes a nipple becoming inverted.
  • Menstrual history. If she is premenopausal, when was her last menstrual period?
  • Is there any discharge from the nipple?
  • Go through the risk factors

Symptoms

  • Lump in the breast[1]
  • The lump is present all the time and does not get smaller or go away with the menstrual cycle.
  • The lump may feel like it is attached to the skin or chest wall and cannot be moved.
  • The lump may feel hard, irregular in shape and very different from the rest of the breast tissue.
  • The lump may be tender, but it is usually not painful.
  • Pain is more often a symptom of a non-cancerous (benign) condition, but should be checked by a doctor.
  • Lump in the axilla
  • Sometimes small, hard lumps in the armpit may be a sign that breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Although these lumps are often painless, they may be tender.
  • Changes in breast shape or size
  • Skin changes
  • The skin of the breast may become dimpled or puckered.
  • A thickening and dimpling of the skin is called orange peel skin, or peau d’orange.
  • Redness, swelling and increased warmth (signs that look like an infection) may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.
  • Itching of the breast or nipple may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.
  • Itchiness is often not relieved by ointments, creams or other medications.
  • Nipple changes
  • Some people’s nipples are always pointed inward (inverted). Normal nipples that suddenly become inverted should be checked by a doctor.
  • Discharge from the nipples can be caused by many conditions, most of which are non-cancerous (benign).
  • Discharge from one nipple may be a sign of breast cancer, especially if it appears without squeezing the nipple (is spontaneous) and is blood-stained.

Associated Symptoms

Following associated symptoms occur as cancer grows larger or spreads to other parts of the body, including other organs:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Breast cancer. Canadian Cancer Society (2015) http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/diagnosis/?region=on Accessed on January 16, 2016
  2. Breast lumps and breast examination. patients (2015) http://patient.info/doctor/breast-lumps-and-breast-examination Accessed on January 18, 2016

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