Breast Cancer - The Symptoms
Breast cancer affects men and women alike and, after lung cancer, is the second most common type of cancer in the world and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. Among women, it is the most common cancer worldwide. It is more prominent in industrially developed countries.
There are many signs or symptoms useful in detecting breast cancer, the most notable being the discovery of a lump. This lump usually feels different than the surrounding tissue. According to the Merck Manual, more than 80 percent of cases are discovered by the woman doing a self-test and finding a lump. The first red flag discovered by doctors is through mammograms according to American Cancer Society.
If a patient finds a lump or lumps in the armpits or lymph nodes this can also be an indicator of breast cancer. Other signs are changes in the size of the breast, skin dimpling, nipple inversion or spontaneous nipple discharge. Pain can be a misleading sign . It is not normally breast cancer if a patient suffers from pain but could be other breast-related problems.
