Symptoms of breast cancer

Unfortunately, clear symptoms of breast cancer can be detected only at the last stages of development of the malignant process. For this reason, in order to recognize a serious pathology in time, every woman should know the slightest signs, which should be urgently addressed to a doctor.

Breast cancer is the most common female oncological disease.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

The first symptoms of breast cancer

What characteristic symptoms a woman can determine on her own:

• swelling of the breast (usually one), differences in skin color on the right and left gland;
• sinking the nipple inwards;
• sores on the teat area;
• change the shape of the nipple.

Symptoms most often occur on one breast, much less often - on two.

The first symptoms of breast cancer are determined when an insignificant compaction is found that is painless and often accompanied by an increase and mobility of the lymph nodes in the axillary region. Such symptoms can be preceded by mastopathy, which was not treated at all, or treatment for some reason was interrupted.

Dermatological signs of an initial stage of development of a tumor are the areas with the retracted skin over a neoplasm, and also the appearance of wrinkled skin zones on the mammary gland. Sometimes the area of damage has the appearance of a "smooth platform".

With the transition of cancer development from one stage to another, the neoplasm significantly increases. Almost always changes the contours of the breast, on the surface may appear sores or phenomena that resemble a "lemon crust". The upper limb can swell from the side of the lesion.

The rate of growth and development of cancer can be different. Most often, it increases twice during the period from six months to a year. If the tumor grows faster, then the degree of malignancy is very serious, and it will be more difficult to fight such a disease.

Symptoms of metastasis of breast cancer

Malignant neoplasm can send metastases to many organs, affecting tissues and disrupting the functioning of many body systems. Metastasis usually spreads through the milk ducts, as well as through the fine and large-vessel network.

Cancer sends metastases and lymphatic system: in this case they are localized in the axillary, subscapular, supra- and subclavian areas. Metastatic foci are often found in the liver, lungs, appendages of the uterus, as well as in the bone system - pelvic bones and hips.

The presence of metastases is a sign of III and IV stages of the oncological process. At such stages, the tumor already has a size of more than 5 cm. Among the attendant signs can be called an increase in lymph nodes in the above areas, deterioration in general condition, weight loss, weakness, lack of appetite.

Actually, the symptoms of metastasis of breast cancer depend on where these metastases hit. For example:

• metastases in the lymph nodes - accompanied by an increase in lymph nodes;
• metastases in the lungs - this is the appearance of coughing, phlegm with blood, dyspnea;
• metastases in the liver - increase in liver size with palpation, yellowing of the skin, nausea;
• metastases in the bone system - spontaneous fractures, bone pain;
• metastases in the brain - frequent or persistent headaches, frustration, seizures.

Symptoms of Protocol Breast Cancer

Protokovy cancer (or ductal carcinoma) of the breast can not detect itself for a long period, without giving any signs of development. The appearance of pain or other strange sensations in the gland of the ductal form of cancer is not inherent.

Most often the patient independently and randomly gropes a localized painless nodule in the mammary gland. Sometimes pathology is also accidentally detected on ultrasound prophylactic examination or during mammography (which, by the way, should necessarily be taken once every 1-2 years).

Visible and obvious symptoms of the pathological process appear much later. As a rule, this happens already at the stage of tumor metastasis:

• there is edema of axillary depressions;
• there is a constant fatigue, pain in the spine, in the hands and feet;
• can accumulate fluid in the abdominal cavity;
• the patient may complain of headache, irritability and convulsions.

If there is a suspicion of protocol cancer, the patient must be sent for urgent follow-up, where ultrasound, mammography and a biopsy with histology and immunohistochemistry are performed.

Symptoms of intra-cellular breast cancer in the picture look like small calcareous deposits - calcified localized zones of glandular tissue, which were formed due to the decomposition of the tumor.

The most favorable is the non-invasive form of intra-cellular cancer, which develops inside the duct without affecting the gland tissue.

Symptoms of mastitis-like breast cancer

Mastitis-like (inflammatory) cancer is observed in only 7% of all diagnosed cases of breast oncology.

Such a cancer is characterized by rapid development: usually the patient already 2-3 months from the beginning of the disease turn to the doctor.

Symptoms of mastitis-like cancer are more often detected with a large breast size. The disease can occur with or without a compaction in the gland. However, in all situations the volume of the affected breast increases.

The majority of patients pay attention to the soreness of the glands. In addition to pain, you can find puffiness, redness on the skin, tightening of the affected chest. The mammary gland on the part of the pathology can be hot to the touch.

Puffiness can be observed in the shoulder area and on the upper limb from the side of the lesion. If a seal is found, then, as a rule, it does not have clear outlines. Sometimes there are ulcers on the skin.

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer on the x-ray look like a diffuse thickening and strengthening of the dense structure of the glandular tissue.

This manifests itself in the form of a blackout of the organ. In addition, it is possible to see a violation of the structural image with the formation of fuzzy shapeless shadows, excessive formation of new vessels, and if there is condensation, it usually has a round shape without sharp outlines.

Ultrasound more often indicates zones with a hypoechoic structure and unclear outlines.

The presence of swelling and redness on the skin is, first of all, signs of an inflammatory process. For this reason, if the above signs are observed, the inflammatory etiology of the process should first be suspected.

Symptoms of recurrence of breast cancer

Recurrence of a cancerous tumor, unfortunately, can happen about 4 years after anticancer therapy. Moreover, the recurrent disease can develop both in the former place, and on the other, sometimes even the opposite site.

Symptoms that should alert a woman who has had breast cancer:

• detection of any changes in the mammary glands (the appearance of swelling, burning, itching in the gland);
• the appearance of pathological discharge from the milk ducts;
• a noticeable change in the shade of the skin of the gland.

With such symptoms, you should definitely show yourself to a doctor who will prescribe a more thorough examination for an accurate diagnosis. The earlier the treatment is started, the better the prognosis.

Most often, relapses occur when the patient has previously been diagnosed with a large cancerous tumor involving lymph nodes, or the malignant process was rapid. After treatment of such tumors, a woman is usually recommended to show herself to the doctor regularly and undergo ultrasound of the mammary glands.

Symptoms of Paget's Breast Cancer

Paget's cancer is a cancerous lesion of the nipple of the breast.

Early symptoms of breast cancer Paget - is the appearance of reddening and peeling of the sucking area. Sometimes it may look like a mild irritation, so the patients at first do not rush to the doctor. Often the irritation even passes and the woman calm down for a while. But then more severe signs of the disease will follow:

• a feeling of itching and burning;
• soreness from touching;
• the appearance of discharge from the milk ducts.

When palpating (not always, but in 50% of cases), you can identify dense nodules. They are not in all cases connected to the nipple and can continue their development, regardless of the condition of the sucking area.

At later stages, the malignant process switches to neighboring tissues, which is manifested by the formation of ulcers or itchy rashes. Usually, the disease affects only one mammary gland.

Paget's cancer also occurs in the male population, and the symptoms of the disease are usually the same as in female patients. This is redness, peeling, sores, itchy skin around the nipple.

Often Paget's cancer is confused with a nipple eczema, as both diseases are characterized by the appearance of peeling, crusts, microcracks, wetting sores in the parotid zone. However, over time, the nipple flattenes and loses its shape, and next to it or beneath it forms a densification that develops further into the gland. Simultaneously with the development of the process, it becomes possible to probe nearby lymph nodes.

Of course, the effectiveness of treatment is dependent, first of all, on the stage of the therapeutic process at which stage of the malignant process. Therefore, it is so important to detect pathological signs in time and contact the doctor. If treatment is started late, it can last for months and even years, without excluding the possibility of a re-development of the disease in the future.

If you think that you have discovered symptoms of breast cancer, do not be afraid to see a doctor. As statistics show, the majority of signs of breast diseases to a cancerous tumor have nothing to do with. For example, of all detected tumors, less than 20% are diagnosed as malignant. Most common cause for concern is mastitis or benign fibroadenoma. Nevertheless, if suspicious symptoms are detected, it is necessary to take the situation adequately and immediately contact the doctor.