Five Signs To Check For Breast Cancer - How To Spot The Symptoms | HuffPost Life

Five Signs to Check for Breast Cancer

Cristina Criddle— The Huffington Post UK

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With the controversy surrounding no make-up selfies to raise breast cancer awareness, knowing which symptoms to look out for is crucial.

Most women know that lumps are a key sign of breast cancer. However, despite this important indicator, lumps may not be evident during the initial phases of cancer.

Also, other forms of breast cancer, such as inflammatory, will not create lumps and therefore must be identified separately.

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Women must always be cautious and watchful of any changes in their breasts which may signal a malignancy.

Here are some of the lesser known symptoms of breast cancer to check for, according to the BrightStar organisation and the New Health Guide site. If you notice any of these, it is advisable that you contact a doctor as early as possible.

1. Sore, red and itchy nipples

The most visible indications of imflammatory breast cancer are scaliness and reddening of the skin on the breast. The skin may become itchy and sore to touch, which can be accompanied by swelling and an outbreak of purple spots resembling bruises. This is due to the type of breast cancer, which blocks the blood vessels, resulting in colour change. Some may also find dimples on their breast.

However, it is important to note some of these symptoms may be caused by other factors. A change in washing detergent, pregnancy, hormone imbalance, or another rash.

If it doesn't appear to be particularly extreme, it may be worth leaving it for a few weeks before consulting your doctor.

If the symptoms persist for longer than a menstrual cycle, get drastically worse, or are confined to one breast - make an appointment.

Story continues below the slideshow:

11 Little Known Breast Cancer Facts

Breast cancer is actually many different types of cancer(01 of10)

Breast cancer, in its simplest definition, is cancer that starts in the cells of the breast. But what we call "breast cancer" actually includes several different types of cancer, all of which require different treatments and have different prognoses. (credit:Shutterstock)

A lump doesn't always (or even usually) mean cancer(02 of10)

Most breast lumps indicate something other than breast cancer—some possible causes for breast lumps include cysts, fibrosis, or benign tumours. And some women are just prone to lumpy breasts, which is stressful but harmless. That said, if you find a lump, get it checked out — know that the odds are good that it's nothing serious, but see your doctor about it for your own peace of mind. (credit:Susan G. Komen)

Breast cancer isn't always a lump(03 of10)

It's helpful to know that breast cancer can appear in forms other than a lump, which means there are other physical signs you should watch for. Other symptoms that you should get checked out include thickening of the skin in the breast or underarm area; swelling, warmth, redness, or darkening of the breasts; a change in your breast size or shape; dimpling or puckering of the breast skin; an itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple; a pulling in of your nipple or another part of your breast; sudden nipple discharge; or pain in one spot of the breast that doesn't go away. (credit:Shutterstock)

Breast cancer risk isn't always determined by family history(04 of10)

A family history of breast cancer (on either your mother or father's side) can be an indication that your personal odds of developing it are higher than average, but they don't guarantee that you will. As well, the majority of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors, including family history. And the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are hereditary, but only account for five to 10 per cent of all breast cancers. (credit:Shutterstock)

BRCA1 or BRCA2 don't always mean cancer is in your future(05 of10)

The news that Angelina Jolie had had a preventative double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation made many women wonder if they had the same mutation--and what it would mean for them if they did. If you do have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer is significantly elevated, and women with the mutations who do get cancer tend to develop it at younger ages; one estimate states that 55 to 65 per cent of the women with the BRCA1 mutation and 45 per cent of those with the BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70, versus 12 per cent in the general population. But it does not mean that cancer is definitely in your future, and every person has to make her own individual decision, based on a variety of factors, about how to best mitigate her risk of disease. (credit:Shutterstock)

Not all women have a one-in-eight risk for breast cancer(06 of10)

This often-cited statistic is somewhat misleading. Breast cancer risk varies based on a variety of factors, including age, weight, and ethnic background. Risk increases as you get older (http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/age.htm): most breast-cancer cases are in women in their 50s and 60s. Also, some ethnic groups appear to be more susceptible to breast cancer; the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. says that white, non-Hispanic women have the highest overall risk of developing breast cancer, while women of Korean descent have the lowest risk, but African-American women have a higher death rate. Finally, being overweight or obese may also up your risk; there is evidence that being obese or overweight after menopause can up your breast-cancer risk, possibly because fat tissue is a source of estrogen. (credit:Shutterstock)

There are ways to lower your risk(07 of10)

You can't prevent breast cancer, per se, but there are ways to lower your personal risk. If you are overweight or obese, you could try to lose weight in a healthful way; if you are already in a healthy weight range, try to stay there. Exercise regularly, as as little as 75 to 150 minutes of walking a week has been shown to have a lowering effect on risk. Limit your alcohol consumption — research found that women who have two or more alcoholic drinks each day have an elevated risk of breast cancer. And avoid hormone therapy during menopause, as a combo of estrogen and progestin has been shown to raise breast-cancer risk. (credit:Shutterstock)

Mammograms aren't foolproof(08 of10)

Mammograms are a powerful way to detect breast cancer early on, but they aren't 100 per cent. Mammograms are most effective in women aged 50 and over; they detect about 83 per cent of women who have breast cancer in that age group. For younger women, the sensitivity is 78 per cent. However, that does mean some cancers are missed and that there are false-positive results as well, which could require a biopsy to confirm. Talk to your doctor about when you should start getting mammograms regularly, or if you have symptoms that suggest that you should get one. (credit:Shutterstock)

Fertility treatments don't raise your breast-cancer risk(09 of10)

Some wondered if Giuliana Rancic's fertility treatments were behind her diagnosis of breast cancer in her late 30s, but experts interviewed by WebMD said that there is no strong evidence connecting the disease with the use of fertility drugs. It's true that hormonal treatments can raise the risk for post-menopausal women, but women undergoing fertility treatments are almost never in that age range, and also take the medications for a much shorter period of time. (credit:Getty Images)

Most women survive breast cancer(10 of10)

Cancer is scary, but in most cases, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive and lead healthy lives. According to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada, the five-year survival rate is 80 per cent for men and 88 per cent for women. That's up from 79 per cent for women in 1986. (credit:Shutterstock)

2. Upper back pain

You can sometimes spot breast cancer with a pain felt in the back or shoulders, rather than the chest or breast.

This pain can easily be confused with sore muscles after exercise. However, the pain will not decrease with stretching or changing position. Furthermore, it can extend to a bone pain - deep ache or throbbing.

This is caused by the primary spread of breast cancer to the spine or ribs, often becoming secondary spine cancer.

Upper back pain is also one of the first signs to be felt by women who have developed a tumour, due to it lying in the glandular tissue near the chest wall which, as it grows, puts pressure on the spine.

In most cases, women fail to recognize this pain as a sign of breast cancer, and can often dismiss it as muscular strain.

If your back pain doesn’t go away with rest or stretching - consult your doctor.

3. A change in nipple appearance or size

The growth of a tumor in close proximity to the nipple can be quickly spotted, as changes in shape and appearance develop fast. You may quite easily become aware of it as you get dressed or look in the mirror.

The most common changes associated with breast cancer are a flattening or inversion of the nipple. If your nipple has visibly shrunk, or isn't as prominent as it usually is, this could be a sign.

One of the most common locations for a tumor is under the nipple, which can alter the look and feel of the nipple. There can also be decreased sensitivity, which may be highlighted when engaging in sexual activity.

Equally important is discharge from the nipple without it being pressed. If this liquid includes blood then it is a clearer indication of cancer.

4. Change in breast size

An uneven change in the size or shape of your breasts is often a sign. This is essentially important if you have been informed you have a dense tissue breast as lumps will often be hidden and cannot be felt, sometimes even mammograms can miss them.

A visible loosening or swelling can also be an indicator. However, this is no cause to be severely alarmed. It is best to get a mammogram or check-up at the doctors, and be relieved, than to not detect the presence of a tumour.

5. Pain, lumps or swelling in the armpits

A common place to be affected first by cancer is the lymph nodes present in the armpit. Any pain in the armpit must be checked carefully with fingers. Typically, a lump under the armpit will won't move and will be hard to the touch - it may also be particularly sore or tender.

Apart from lumps, swelling can be a symptom when under the arm or the collarbone.

However, colds, flu and infections can also cause swollen lymph nodes, so if you’re ill you may want to wait until you feel better, to see if it is related.

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