Women can experience a variety of breast symptoms, including itchiness, pain, inflammation, rash, and other skin changes. The reassuring news is that these symptoms are not typically linked to cancer but rather to more benign conditions. Still, says Kristi Funk, MD,breast cancer surgeon and founder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles, any new change to the breast tissue or its appearance should be checked out. “It’s better to be proactive about the condition, even if it is benign," she says. Read on for more information about which symptoms warrant extra attention.
Itchy Breasts
Possible non-cancerous causes:eczema, dermatis, soap or detergent allergy
Itchy breasts are not usually a breast cancer symptom. More than likely, the culprit is a skin condition — contact dermatitis, eczema, an allergic reaction to a new soap, detergent, or bra — and seeing your dermatologist can remedy the situation. “However, if the itching is localized to the nipple and accompanied by nipple cracking, flaking, or bleeding, see your doctor,” says Dr. Funk. “Those symptoms are associated with a type of cancer called Paget’s. In addition, women with itchy breasts who also have pain, swelling, and a feeling of warmth or redness should see a breast specialist, as this combination of symptoms may be associated with inflammatory breast cancer.”
Breast Pain
Possible non-cancerous causes:hormone fluctuations, menstrual cycle, caffeine or sodium intake
Breast pain is rarely associated with breast cancer. “A painful lump is less likely to be associated with cancer,” says Leif W. Ellisen, MD, PhD, breast cancer specialist, director of breast cancer genetics at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. “A hard, non-painful lump is more likely something to be concerned about.” Most of the time, breast pain results from hormonal changes and is a completely benign condition. “If you notice that the pain is cyclical, meaning it occurs predictably right before your period or at ovulation, then you can rest assured that it’s just part of your monthly cycle,” says Funk. “You may try cutting down on caffeine and salt to decrease this symptom. On the other hand, if the pain is localized to one spot, is not timed to yourmenstrual cycle, or persists for more than three months, see your doctor.”
Lumpy Breasts
Possible non-cancerous causes:hormone fluctuations, menstrual cycle
All women have lumps in their breasts, says Dr. Ellisen, and some breasts are lumpier than others. If you do breast self-examinations monthly, it will be easier to detect any changes in the lumpiness of your breasts. However, lumps can come and go as hormone levels vary with your menstrual cycle and are not necessarily associated with breast cancer. The lumps to be concerned about — and to see your doctor about — are those that are hard, painless, or continue to grow over time.
Nipple Discharge
Possible non-cancerous causes:hormone imbalance, benign tumor
Discharge from a nipple is common but is rarely associated with breast cancer. Funk recommends that women ask themselves three questions about any discharge they notice: Does it contain blood? Does it come from one spot on the nipple surface? Is it spontaneous? If the answer to any of those questions is “yes,” there may be some reason to worry. But if the discharge is milky white, green, or yellow, and comes from multiple ducts only when pressed, it is most likely normal. However, copious milky discharge when you are not breastfeeding may be related to a benign brain tumor called a prolactinoma. If you have discharge, make an appointment with your doctor. He or she may recommend that you see a breast cancer specialist.
Breast Rash
Possible non-cancerous causes:fungal infection, dermatitis, breastfeeding
A rash can be a tricky symptom, though most often it’s a sign of a skin condition, not cancer. "A rash under the breast in the fold is usually a fungal infection from the skin-on-skin contact of larger-size breasts, but a rash on the breast skin itself is not normal and deserves attention,” says Funk. “In a breastfeeding woman, a rash usually means mastitis or abscess. In a non-lactating woman, a rash could be dermatitis or infection — but it could also be an aggressive form of cancer called inflammatory breast cancer.” Funk recommends seeking medical attention if you develop a rash that doesn’t disappear in a few days. If the rash still doesn’t clear up after your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, see a breast specialist. Many cases ofinflammatory breast cancer go undiagnosed for months because physicians and patients think it’s just a rash, Funk warns.
Inflammation
Possible non-cancerous causes:hormone fluctuations, pregnancy, breastfeeding
Mild inflammation of the breast (including tenderness and swelling) is typically due to hormonal fluctuations associated with your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, orbreastfeeding — and is not necessarily related to cancer. However, if your entire breast is red, swollen, and tender, Funk recommends that you see a breast specialist immediately. That type of inflammation could be a symptom of something serious (such as cancer).
‘Orange Peel‘ Skin
Possible non-cancerous causes: skin condition
Called “peau d’orange,” this is a condition in which the surface of the breast looks rough, thickened, and puckered with little pits, just like an orange peel. It can sometimes be indicative of inflammatory breast cancer; however, it is more often adermatology problem than a cancer problem. Ellisen suggests that, when you’re doing your monthly breast cancer self-check, you take time to look at your breasts in the mirror to be aware of any changes. See your doctor about any differences, such as orange peel skin, that don’t resolve.
Bug Bite-Sized Bumps
Possible non-cancerous causes: bug bites, pimples
Bumps that look like bug bites are usually just that — bug bites — or perhaps pimples, rather than cancer. However, according to Funk, these too could be inflammatory breast cancer symptoms. “If you didn’t just go camping and get attacked by mosquitoes, and the bumps do not go away within a couple of days, see your gynecologist or breast specialist,” she says.
Be Proactive
Both women and their doctors should take any new breast symptom seriously. Pay particular attention to hard, painless lumps, especially if they are growing or fixed to the chest wall, and skin changes that persist over time, as both need to be evaluated for cancer. Since breast cancer can occur at any age, Funk recommends that you continue to ask for an explanation for your symptoms until you are satisfied that your condition is benign in nature and not cancer.
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