What is the early sing and symptoms of breast cancer?

What is the early sing and symptoms of BREAST CANCER?

Definition:-  When cells of the breast begin to grow out of control , these cells usually form a tumor that can often seen on x-ray or felt as lump.  The tumor is malignant if the cell can spread in to surrounding tissue or spread to distal organ of body.  

First you should know the anatomy of breast as seen on image below.

As you know our motto of this blog is to understand in easy way so I don’t make this blog boring as other have lots of information and lots of pages, charts etc. etc.  about breast cancer. I make it in simple way to understand.

In India we have now increasing numbers of patient of breast cancer day by day especially in younger age group. The reason behind this increasing breast cancer patient is lack of awareness. In rural area there is more number of case of breast cancer than urban because of lack of information regarding the cancer. As you know in rural area patient come when there is any symptoms they find or any abnormal changes occur in breast than they consult the physician (stage 2 or 3)

So lack of awareness of breast cancer that’s leads to increase number of breast cancer in young women. In this blog you can help to other women to aware about breast cancer and how to self-examination of breast or to detect about any abnormalities found in breast

What are the risk Factor for breast cancer ?

Age: - The risk for breast cancer is increase with age. Most breast cancer are diagnose after 50 years of age

Genetics: - women who have inherited changes are more likely to develop breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Early menstrual period: - women who start their period before the age of 12 are exposed to hormone longer, raising the risk of breast cancer in small amount.

Late or no pregnancy: - having the 1^st pregnancy after the age of 30 and never having full term pregnancy have more chance to devolve breast cancer.

Starting  menopause after age 55: - Like starting menses early, being exposed to oestrogen hormone for longer time in life also raises the risk of breast cancer.

Not being physically active: - women are not physically active have higher risk of breast cancer.

Being overweight: - older women who are higher weight or obese are more risk devolving breast cancer than a normal weight.

Tacking contraceptive pills: - certain forms of contraceptive pills have been found to raise breast cancer risk.

Family history of breast cancer: - the risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother sister or daughter has history of breast cancer.

Drinking alcohol: - studies show  that the women’s breast cancer are increase if she take more alcohol regularly.

Now we discuss about how to self examine or to detect any abnormalities in breast

There are five step

Step 1: - Begin by looking at your breast in mirror with your shoulders up straights and your arm on your hips.

Now look closely for breast that is the usual size shape and colour. Breast is evenly shape without any distortion or swelling.

If you see any of the following changes consult your physician

1.     Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of skin

2.     A nipple that has change position or inverted nipple

3.     Redness, soreness, rash and swelling

Step 2: - Now raise your arm and look for the shame changes

Step 3: - While you’re at mirror, look for any sing of fluid coming out of nipple.

Step 4: - Next, feel your breast while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and than feel your right breast with help of left hand. Use firm, smooth touch with the 1^st few fingers pads of your hands, keeping fingers flat and together. Use circular motion, about the size of quarter.

Follow the pattern to cover the whole breast. You can begging with nipple moving the larger and larger until you reach outer border of breast. Find any lump or swelling in breast with hand pressure according to tissue.

Step 5: - Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

If you find any abnormalities than consult your physician. Further investigation and treatment are according to stage of cancer. if you have any question do let me know in the comment and please follow my blog for health related topic in easy and simple way to understand. 

Dr. Amin I Bayad

(BHMS)