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Signs and Symptoms; What Not To IgnoreHi ladies! Today we’re talking about breast symptoms. There are some that are more worrisome than others. So let’s get to it.Most Common Breast SymptomsLump(s)Nipple retracting (nipple goes inside out)Discharge (leaking from the nipples)PainSkin discolorationDimples that weren’t there beforeGeneral change in appearanceIt’s always best to call your doctor with any questions about breast symptoms. But as a woman and a Mammographer, I am more than qualified to give you the rundown of these symptoms and what they could mean for you.Lump(s)This is probably the most talked about breast symptom. I see ladies come in almost every day for this symptom. Lumps are scary. Now, most of the time the lump doesn’t end up being breast cancer. A lot of the time it’s something completely non-cancerous. But it’s still important to watch for lumps and always get them checked.So, you should all be doing self-breast exams. You should be feeling your breasts for lumps. If you’re not sure how exactly to do a self-breast exam, please see my separate blog post titled “Self-breast Exams”. Watch for lumps that are hard and that you don’t feel in the same place on the other breast. Lumps that get big and then small and then big again, usually aren’t cancer. Cancer usually grows bigger and bigger. It doesn’t get smaller without medical help. If it gets bigger and then smaller it’s probably a cyst. I like to imagine cysts to be like water balloons. Just little bags of fluid in your breasts. They usually don’t cause you much trouble, but bigger ones can cause tenderness. Lumps in the armpits are usually swollen lymph nodes. If you’re fighting off a sickness they’ll sometimes get swollen.AThis is a picture of a breast lump. This is a lump that you can actually see. If you’re doing your self-breast exams, you’ll feel a lump long before you see it. But I just wanted to give you a real example of what a lump could look like.This is really only a very basic summary of lumps. If you feel a lump, please please please talk to your doctor about it. Better safe than sorry.Nipple RetractionThis is when the nipple looks like it’s inside out. Some women have this, and it’s been like that forever. In those cases it can be normal. It can vary too. Some women will have a nipple that pokes out and then goes back in randomly.BThis is an example of normal nipple retractionIf your nipple suddenly inverts and doesn’t come back out, that can be cause for concern. Usually this only happens on one side. Also, it’s a good idea to feel for lumps along with the nipple turning in. Regardless of if there’s a lump with it, make an appointment to see your doctor.DischargeWhile we’re on the subject of nipples, let’s talk about discharge. This is when fluid leaks from your nipples. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, I’m not talking to you. In fact, women can have normal nipple leakage for 3-4 years after they stop breast feeding. I’ve even seen a woman have discharge for 10 years after she stopped breast feeding, although this isn’t as common. So milky colored discharge is usually nothing to be alarmed by. It can sometimes happen when there is a hormonal issue as well. This will most often happen from both nipples, not just one.There are many possible causes of discharge. I borrowed this list from Mayo Clinic:AbscessBirth controlBreast cancerInfectionDCISEndocrine disordersExcessive breast stimulationInjuryPapillomaMammary duct ectasiaSide effect of medicationsHormone changesPaget’s diseasePregnancyThyroid conditionsNon-worrisome colors of discharge are usually yellow, white, gray, green, blue or dark brown. Also, it’s less concerning when you can manually express the discharge yourself. That means if you can squeeze the breast and get some of the discharge to come out on your own, it’s not as concerning. Another sign that it’s nothing to worry about, is when it’s happening in both nipples.A more suspicious sign is when the discharge is spontaneous. Meaning you can’t get it to come out on your own, and it only does it spontaneously when you’re not expecting it. It’s also more worrisome if it’s only happening in one nipple, and is a clear, bloody, or pale see-through yellow color. These are things you definitely want to talk to your doctor about.PainBoy, if I had a dollar for every time I heard this one. I could retire right now. Pain is, in my opinion, the least concerning symptom out there. Most of the time pain is not associated with breast cancer. In fact, most women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t list pain as a reason for coming in. Unless they feel a lump and keep messing with it. That can make your breast hurt.Some causes for breast pain are hormones, tender lymph nodes from fighting off a sickness, cysts, and just random tenderness for no reason. Women come in all the time to get pain checked out. The end result is usually nothing scary. Does that mean you should ignore pain? No. There are no absolutes in healthcare. Always talk to your doctor about new symptoms.Skin DiscolorationThis can be a sign of breast cancer, and not a good kind. If you notice that the skin on your breasts is changing color, go see your doctor. Red skin can be due to inflammation or infection or an abscess if localized, but it can also be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Check with your doctor. If your skin starts to look like an orange peel, head to your doctor’s office right away. Orange is bad. Purple isn’t good either. I don’t mean a bruise. We all get those from time to time. But if your skin starts to look purple over a large portion of your breast, get it checked. Now. CThis is one example of what to watch for.Side note, these are cases of advanced inflammatory breast cancer. It wouldn’t be as noticeable at first. So, to sum it up, if your breast is looking like it’s changing color, make an appointment with your doctor ASAP.DimplesNot the cute ones on your face. I mean dimples on your breast. Watch for these. Usually the bad kind of dimple will have a lump under it. You’ll see that the skin is being pulled inward. This is something you should go see your doctor about.The picture here is a case of dimpling that turned out to be breast cancer. This is what it could eventually look like if it’s not caught early. As you can see, the nipple is also being pulled inside out a little too, along with the skin below the breast. There are some normal dimples in the breast sometimes too. For example, if you lost weight, sometimes you’ll have some small dimpling in your breasts. Usually both sides. Just watch for the dimpling to get worse and make sure you’re doing your self-breast exams.General Change in AppearanceGet to know your breasts. Watch for changes. Watch for lumps, bumps, and dimples. Watch for skin changes. Feel them, feel for changes. Pay attention to the breasts getting heavier. If one breast looks like its growing, get it checked. If one breast feels heavier than the other breast, get it checked. If one breast looks like it’s a different color or if the skin feels thicker on one breast, get it checked.Are you sensing a theme here? If there are changes to your breasts, get them checked. Better safe than sorry. We live in an age where breast cancer doesn’t have to mean the end of your life. You’ve heard me say that before. That’s because it’s true. But it’s only true if you don’t ignore symptoms and pay attention to your breasts.I have asked patients before why they waited so long to come in. Do you want to know what most of them tell me? They say, “I was scared.” My heart breaks for these ladies. Breast cancer is terrifying. I have goosebumps right now writing this. But I beg you, please, please, please, don’t let fear stop you from getting checked out. In the case of breast cancer, time is not your friend. The longer you wait, the worse it gets. Don’t let fear stop you from going to the doctor. It’s ok to be afraid. But you can be afraid and do something about it at the same time. Remember that we women are strong even when we are not.Well That’s all I have for you today. As always, I am a Mammographer, not a doctor. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to check with your doctor. Don’t ignore symptoms. Early detection saves lives.‘Tata’ for now,HollyImages Borrowed From:A: : : : ................
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