Breast cancer may not come with any signs and symptoms, especially in its early stages.
A lump usually is the first symptom.
The most effective ways to keep aware of any changes in your breasts include breast self-examinations and mammograms.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
Regular breast self-examinations can detect lumps, andmammogramscan detect changes in breast tissue.
If you find a change in your breasts, try not to panic.
Breast changesincluding lumpscan occur for a variety of reasons and may not always breast cancer.
Call your healthcare provider for an examination and to order any tests if necessary.
Read on to find out more about uncommon signs of breast cancer and what to look for.
Sometimes, the enlarged breast can feel harder or noticeably heavier than the other.
An even less common symptom is a decrease in breast size on one side.
You should not ignore either of these changes.
IBC can even cause a fever.
IBC symptomsare similar to those of mastitis, a throw in of breast infection.
Get prompt treatment rule out IBC and to optimize your recovery and prevent complications.
Nipple retraction is concerning if it is sudden and unexplained.
Other symptoms may include nipple pain, non-milk discharge, and thickening of the nipple tissue.
This can cause localized nerve endings to fire abnormally, manifesting symptoms of itchiness.
This occurs nearer to the skin’s surface, creating a dimpled, orange-peel texture, often with scaling.
The skin may also be thicker and warm to the touch.
In other cases, the discoloration may be widespread or similar to the appearance of a bruise.
Also, but rarely, the entire breast may appear red or pinkish.
What’s most important is to notice any changes in your breasts.
If you notice anything out of the ordinary, call your healthcare provider.
Even if it’s not cancer, it’s always better to get checked out, just in case.
A Word From Verywell
Changes in your breasts can occur suddenly or gradually.
The key for you to remember is that you shouldn’t wait things out.
Book an appointment with a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
Breast cancer that has spread to local areas near the original spot has an 86% survival rate.
If the cancer spreads to distant areas of the body, the survival rate is 28%.
Risk factors for breast cancer include:
It depends on what kind of breast cancer it is.
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) often does not cause a lump, so there’s nothing to feel.
It may also not show up on a mammogram.
Breastcancer.org.Signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Inflammatory breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Types of breast cancer.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diagnosing breast cancer.
