Early Signs of Breast Cancer: A Doctor’s Guide - Dr Tushar Patil

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. Detecting it at an early stage is critical because early diagnosis greatly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates.

However, early signs of breast cancer are not always obvious, and many women may not recognise the first symptom. Paying attention to subtle changes in the breast and listening to your body can help detect the disease in time.

Abnormal growth of breast cells is the cause of breast cancer. These abnormal cells might create lumps or masses; however, not all breast cancers are in such a way that you can feel a lump.

Some may lead to the development of very small changes in the breast, while others may remain undetectable without proper medical screening. Cancer cells usually change the normal breast tissue and sometimes cause changes that can be seen or detected by touch.

The knowledge of the early warning signs is vital because visiting a doctor at the earliest allows for the commencement of effective treatment.

Among the first signs to be careful of is a change in the size or shape of the breast. Any swelling, shrinkage, or alterations, with the cause unknown, and especially if the changes are only in one breast, should definitely not be ignored.

The tumours can cause the breast to look uneven or asymmetrical, and these slight differences are sometimes detectable even before a lump can be felt. Skin changes are among the signs that matter a lot, too.

Redness, dimpling, or an orange-peel-like texture could be indications of tumour pressure against the skin. Also, continuous itching, irritation, or localised warmth in the breast are warning signs.

The nipple also comes into the picture when talking about changes, being the new signs of the disease. In these changes, the nipple may also become retracted, inverted (turning inward), or have an abnormal discharge.

Nipple inversion may be a natural occurrence, but if it is abrupt or has newly appeared, it must be assessed by a doctor. The causes for any nipple discharge that is bloody, clear, brown, or yellow are not normal and thus such a symptom needs a medical professional's help.

Persistent pain in the breast or nipple that is not linked to menstrual cycles or other causes may also be an early sign of cancer. Nevertheless, if the pain has been going on for a long time or is localised, it has to be taken seriously.

Among the earliest and frequent symptoms of breast cancer are lumps that can be felt or thickened areas in the breast or underarm. Lumps have different sizes, shapes, and can be of different textures.

A few lumps may be benign, while some others could be cancerous; therefore, any new lump or changes in an old one should be checked as soon as possible. Women can perform self-examination regularly to familiarise themselves with their breasts' normal feel and look, thus letting them notice the abnormal ones with ease.

Nevertheless, self-exams do not substitute professional screenings and should be implemented in conjunction with regular medical evaluations.

It is always a necessity to practice regular screening, among which mammography is an essential technique for early detection. The health-care professional’s recommended periodical screening schedule should be strictly followed by women with a family history of breast cancer or women who are over 40 years of age.

Tumours that are still too small to be felt may be detected by mammograms, and also, changes may be found even when there are no symptoms present. Taking one’s risk into account and going to a medical professional to determine the correct screening interval for breast health are of great importance.

In case any strange changes are occurring in the breasts, then medical help should be sought without delay. Early detection keeps options for treatment open and makes chances of success better as most types of breast cancer are very responsive to treatment if detected early.

Cancer would be stopped from spreading, and treatment efficacy would be increased if the intervention were done at the right time. Being aware of early warning signs, doing self-exams regularly, and following the advice of a doctors about screening are effective strategies to keep breast health as well as general body health.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Health Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Health Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.