Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of people in the United States each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “approximately 264,000 cases of female breast cancer and approximately 2,400 cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed each year.”
The thought of having a lump in your breast can be scary, but it’s important to know your breast health. Important so you can alert your doctor of any changes. However, there are other changes besides lumps that may be signs of breast cancer.
Thankfully, many women with breast cancer can detect it early with imaging. Regular mammograms and ultrasounds are important. But there are still some women who notice a symptom that calls attention to what’s going on in their breasts.
Although the first thing many people think of when they think of breast cancer is a lump, breast cancer can actually present with many other symptoms. Here are some lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer that go beyond just a breast lump.
A lump in the armpit.
An unexpected sign of breast cancer is the presence of a lump in the armpit. This may be due to swollen lymph nodes near the breast.
Healthy lymph nodes are lima bean shaped and should also be somewhat firm but still have some flexibility. Enlarged, possibly cancerous lymph nodes become round like marbles and very hard.
Nipple or skin changes.
When it comes to signs of breast cancer, any changes in the skin of your breasts or nipples are cause for concern. You should watch for dimpling of the skin or changes in the nipple, including nipple inversion. Cracked and inflamed nipples can also be warning signs.
Nipple discharge.
Random nipple discharge can be a cause for concern, but experts are most concerned about bloody discharge—opaque, white, or green.
Most women will experience discharge from their nipples if they squeeze them, which is not actually a worrying sign and is related to spontaneous discharges.
Some people may notice this spontaneous discharge leaving stains on their bras or shirts after a day’s routine or work.
Something that appears to be a breast infection.
To some people, breast cancer may look like an infection — redness, swelling — but it can actually be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.
Breast infections do exist. However, if you notice persistent breast redness that doesn’t improve with antibiotics, you should contact your doctor immediately.
A change in breast size.
If you experience a drastic change in breast size, this may be a sign of breast cancer. This becomes apparent when you compare one of your breasts to the other or notice that your bra no longer fits one of your breasts.
In rare cases, the breasts may actually shrink. In other cases, the breasts may be swollen, which, as mentioned above, may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.
Other physical changes can also be signs.
When breast cancer is in its advanced stages, patients may experience symptoms such as weight loss, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain.
In this case, it can be difficult to identify these symptoms as signs of breast cancer. It is always important to alert your healthcare team of any changes in your general health.
If you notice any warning signs, contact your doctor.
In addition to physical symptoms, people who have a parent or sibling with breast cancer are also at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are hereditary. So it’s important to remember this if your brain starts to worry.
That being said, it’s still important to remind your doctor of any family history so that imaging scans can be started at a younger age, if necessary.
Breast cancer is a serious diagnosis, but once diagnosed by a doctor, there are many treatments. If you suspect you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor who can arrange testing for you.
That said, it’s important to remember not to panic. A lot of these are unlikely to be breast cancer and may be benign.
You should consider these questions as a sign to call your doctor, but keep in mind that there are also explanations other than breast cancer. No matter what, checking in with your doctor regularly and monitoring your health is the best thing you can do for yourself.
