Saturday, November 22, 2008

Breast Cancer Symptoms You Need to Know About

Different people may have different breast cancer symptoms. You may have all of the common symptoms, only some of them, or perhaps no symptoms at all. For that reason, if you believe that you are displaying breast cancer symptoms, you owe it to yourself to be examined by a doctor as soon as possible.

Some women may experience very obvious and alarming breast cancer symptoms, such as a bloody or clear leakage from the nipple. Often, this happens when a palpable lump is also present. Other more obvious symptoms could manifest as a change or deforming of the breast or nipple shape. Dimpling or indentations are one indicator of this happening.

Breast cancer symptoms can be confused with the natural state of the breast at certain points in a woman's menstrual cycle. For example, a woman may have swollen and sore breasts during her cycle due to normal hormone fluctuations. This is not necessarily a symptom of breast cancer. If you have not experienced this type of symptom and are worried, schedule an examination with your doctor.

Most people know that lumps can be an early sign of breast cancer. If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Lumps that are in fact cancerous, usually feel firm with a bit of give like chewing gum. Lumps do not usually cause pain. If they do, they are usually cysts. The most common area in which to find a lump is under the nipple of on the outer part of the breast near the underarm area.

When diagnosed, understanding the type of breast cancer you have is essential to determining your treatment options.Breast cancer classification is determined by cellular type by means of a tissue sample, which is a simple biopsy, as well as the location of the cancer. This cancer is considered early-stage breast cancer-some doctors will refer to it as a "pre-cancerous" condition. It will often appear on a mammogram as small, white specks of calcium-it is important to realize that most calcification are not cancer. If it is left untreated it can in time develop into invasive breast cancer.

One the breast cancer has advance, the symptoms may be chest pain or pain near the breast bone, open sores on the skin, swelling and tenderness of the arm on the afflicted side. There may be weight loss and a loss of appetite as well. As breast cancer moves into these stages, treatment becomes more and more difficult. The finest diagnosis and breast cancer information is going to be what your doctor tells you. Consequently, be sure to talk over anything which may seem different about your health and discuss your current breast cancer symptoms with your doctor just as soon as you become aware of them.

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