Early breast cancer can in some cases present as breast pain
or a painful lump. Since the advent of breast mammography, breast cancer is
most frequently discovered as an asymptomatic nodule on a mammogram, before
any symptoms are present. A lump under the arm or above the collarbone that
does not go away may be present. When breast cancer associates with skin inflammation,
this is known as inflammatory breast cancer. In inflammatory breast cancer,
the breast tumor itself is causing an inflammatory reaction
of the skin, and this can cause pain, swelling, warmth, and redness throughout
the breast.
Changes in the appearance or shape of the breast can raise suspicions of breast
cancer.
Another reported symptom complex of breast cancer is Paget's
disease of the breast. This syndrome presents
as eczematoid skin
changes at the nipple, and is a late manifestation of an underlying breast
cancer.
Most breast symptoms do not turn out to represent underlying breast cancer.
Benign breast diseases such as fibrocystic
mastopathy, mastitis, functional
mastodynia, and fibroadenoma of
the breast are more common causes of breast symptoms. The appearance of a
new breast symptom should be taken seriously by both patients and their doctors,
because of the possibility of an underlying breast cancer at almost any age.
Occasionally, breast cancer presents as metastatic disease,
that is, cancer that has spread beyond the original organ. Metastatic breast
cancer will cause symptoms that depend on the location of metastasis. More
common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung, and brain. Unexplained
weight loss can occasionally herald an occult breast cancer, as can symptoms
of fevers or chills. Bone or joint pains can sometimes be manifestations of
metastatic breast cancer, as can jaundice or neurological symptoms. Pleural
effusions are not uncommon with metastatic breast
cancer. Obviously, these symptoms are "non-specific," meaning they can also
be manifestations of many other illnesses.
Thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for detailed information
on breast cancer symptoms
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