Revealed: 5 Early Signs of Breast Cancer

One of the most common types of cancer among women, breast cancer, is slowly crawling into almost every household with 150, 000 new cases being diagnosed every year in India. What are the main reasons- Is it Lack of awareness or late  diagnosis of breast cancer?

According to research, many women in India who are detected with breast cancer usually do not have any knowledge about their condition. Moreover, even if they suspect it, they do not feel free to talk about it openly due to the stigma attached to breast cancer and also because of the strong sense of denial. It is not surprising; therefore, that the tumor gets detected in advanced stages, drastically affecting the survival rate and treatment options for the patients.

What should you be looking for? Please read on as we reveal to you the 5 early signs/ symptoms of breast cancer.

Lump in Breasts

One of the most common signs to look for is to check if there is any lump in your breasts. If you find any lump, no matter how small it is, you must consult a doctor and get it checked.

Changes in Nipples

An inverted nipple of recent origin or spontaneous nipple discharge from a single duct, bloody or clear also needs to be reported. If there is persistent itching, scaling and discharge from the nipple and its surrounding, that could also point to an early breast cancer.

Skin Changes

If you were to notice any changes in the skin of the breast, such as dimpling or puckering or thickening of the skin, one must take it seriously.

Swelling in the Armpit

Rarely you may feel no lump or any other abnormality in the breast but may feel a lump in the armpit. This should be investigated as it may indicate an enlarged lymph node involved by a quiet tumor in the breast

Breast Pain

 Pain is rarely the first presenting symptom of breast cancer (5-8%). However, a pain not responding to conventional treatment should be investigated thoroughly and the possibility of cancer ruled out.

Having read the above symptoms, if you feel that you are suffering from anyone of them signs, then the most logical thing to do is to immediately consult a Breast Specialist. Please don’t wait for symptoms like loss of appetite or back pain or breathlessness etc to set it. These are symptoms of advanced disease.

It is also possible to detect breast cancer even before the above symptoms set in and that is by getting annual screening mammograms done after the age of 50. A word of caution, though- mammograms can miss up to 20% of breast cancers. If clinical suspicion is high, then MRI of the breast can be a useful problem-solving tool. These investigations are readily available in our State-of-the-art facility.

If you are detected with breast cancer, there is no need to worry. All that you need to do is to search for breast cancer treatment in India to get the best care on time. Max Institute of Cancer Care is well equipped to offer you the entire range of multimodality treatment required to treat breast cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and Hormonal therapy.

Breast cancer is like any other disease, which if treated in a timely fashion can lead to a complete cure. At Max Institute of Cancer Care, we strive to make your journey flawless. The Stand Alone Chemotherapy Day Care in Lajpat Nagar is a step in that direction, where the patients’ experience is truly world class!