Breast Cancer Advice Center

What are the signs of breast cancer?

i need to know what to look for, what is the lump like? can you see it or feel it? is it large? where exactly is it?

Public Comments

1. My mom told me to do some kind of test. After ten days (including the menstration days) rub your breast around to check if your have a some kind of ball. You'll know it because it is hard. If you feel it contact your doctor ASAP. Hope this helps.
2. You sould do a self breast exam every month, this will help you become familiar with how your breasts naturally feel. This way, if something is out of the ordinary, you will feel it. The size of a lump will vary, but again, if you stay familiar with your breasts, you will probably notice a lump, even if very small. And the lump could be anywhere in the breast-region, even in the armpit area, so you should check there too.
   
   And if you're really worried, make sure you get to your doctor at least once a year for a full exam, including a breast check.
3. heres a good website u can go 2...it shows u how 2 self-examine urself, the symptons, the causes & much more valuable info.... http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/abou... just copy & paste this exact URL into the search space.....im sure u'll get the answers u were looking 4....GooD LuCk & take care (^_*)
4. ANY changes in your breast can be a sign of cancer. Most especially lumps, discharges, and puckering of the skin. But a lot of times there are no changes in the appearance of the breast until the cancer is advanced. Which is why yearly mammograms are suggested for women over 40, postmenopausal women, and women who are in high risk categories.
   
   It can be anywhere in the breast area including the armpits. It can be large or so small you can't feel it.
   
   *edited to add this bit:
   
   I had to come back to add this. Most breast changes are hormonal and harmless so don't panic if you have some changes. However, I can't stress enough the importance of mammogram screening for any changes.
   
   Here's what happened to me. I went to my doc about a lump in my left breast. I was 32. He sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound of the area. The mammogram clinic took films of both breasts and found a small area in my right breast that couldn't even be felt by the doctors. That area turned out to be cancer, early stage with a great survival rate. The lump I originally went in over was a harmless cyst.
   
   If I hadn't gone in over the lump in my left one the cancer in my right one wouldn't have been found until it was too late for me.
   
   Moral of this story is that even though you shouldn't panic until the doctor says it's time to panic - you should get any changes checked no matter your age or risk category.
   
   If you don't have insurance google your city/county resources on mammograms. There's lots of free screening out there.
5. Hi, you can do some self-exam.
   
   "A breast self-exam provides an opportunity to detect tumors that may develop in the time between yearly clinical breast exams. To increase a woman's chances of detecting a small tumor at a time when it may be more responsive to treatment, a breast self-exam should be performed monthly, usually 2-3 days after menstruation. For women with irregular periods, it is important to remember to perform a monthly exam on the same day each month. Keep in mind that prior to menstruation or during pregnancy, breasts may be somewhat lumpy or more tender than usual.
   
   By performing self-exams once a month, women can become familiar with the normal appearance and "feel" of their breasts, increasing the likelihood of recognizing changes such as thickening, lumps, or spontaneous nipple discharge. Because breast tissue normally has a bumpy texture, it may feel lumpy. However, there can be a great deal of individual variation. If a breast has lumpiness throughout, then it is probably just the normal contours of the breast tissue and in most cases is no cause to worry. Dominant lumps are firmer than the rest of the breast and are of more concern. When a dominant lump is found, there is an increased risk that it may be cancer, even though cysts and fibroadenomas can cause similar lumps. Any time a woman discovers a lump that feels dominant, it should be checked by a medical professional.
   
   
   How to Do Breast Self-Exam
   
   1. Lie down. Flatten your right breast by placing a pillow or towel under your right shoulder. Place your right arm behind your head. Examine your right breast with your left hand.
   2. Use the pads, not the tips, of the middle three fingers on your left hand. With fingers flat, press gently using a circular, rubbing motion and feel for lumps. In small, dime-sized circles without lifting the fingers, start at the outermost top edge of your breast and spiral in toward the nipple.
   3. Press firmly enough to feel the different breast tissues, using three different pressures. First, light pressure to just move the skin without jostling the tissue beneath, then medium pressure pressing midway into the tissue, and finally deep pressure to probe more deeply down to the ribs or to the point just short of discomfort.
   4. Completely feel all of the breast and chest area up under your armpit, up to the collarbone, and all the way over to your shoulder to cover breast tissue that extends toward the shoulder.
   5. Gently squeeze both nipples and look for discharge.
   
   After you have completely examined your right breast, examine your left breast using the same method with your right hand. You may want to examine your breasts or do an extra exam while showering. It's easy to slide soapy hands over your skin and to feel anything unusual. You should also check your breasts in a mirror, looking for any change in size or contour, dimpling of the skin, or spontaneous nipple discharge."
   (Source:http://www.smile.org.au/cancers/breast%2...
   
   You may also go to do the Clinical Breast Exam or x-ray.
   
   For the details, I suggest you visit "www.smile.org.au" which provides you with the valuable information about breast cancer or diseases.
6. You might feel a lump or you might not be able to feel a lump...get regular mammograms...
7. Breast cancer most often involves glandular breast cells in the ducts or lobules. Most patients present with an asymptomatic lump discovered during examination or screening mammography. Diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy. Treatment usually includes surgical excision, often with radiation therapy and adjuvant systemic therapy.
   Symptoms of Breast cancer:
   Early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:
   * Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt
   * Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple -- for example, you may have redness, dimpling, or puckering that looks like the skin of an orange
   * Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody, clear-to-yellow, or green, and look like pus
   Men get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include breast lump and breast pain and tenderness.
   Symptoms of advanced breast cancer may include:
   * Bone pain
   * Breast pain or discomfort
   * Skin ulcers
   * Swelling of one arm (next to breast with cancer)
   * Weight loss
   Please see the web pages for more details on Breast cancer.
8. Hi there all breast cancers aren't the same and the lumps can be very small or large and in any area, if you find any abnormality go and see a Doctor and insist on a mamogram. Sometimes the nipples will dimple, you may have a leaking nipple. But any thng different with your breast should be checked by a Dr. and right away. Good luck
9. You can see the changes of the physical appearance in one of them.