Catching breast cancer at an early stage without symptoms is the most accurate in terms of treatment effectiveness. This is possible with screening tests.
Catching breast cancer at an early stage without symptoms is the most accurate in terms of treatment effectiveness. This is possible with screening tests. However, screening tests may not always give accurate results. Sometimes mammograms may not capture the full image. For this reason, it is important to know the symptoms of breast cancer well and to teach women about breast self-examination in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.
Breast tissue may show different characteristics over time depending on hormonal changes. Women who do breast self-exams know the periodic changes in breast tissue. Other than these changes, it can be noticed early when different symptoms develop.
Possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:
- Breast mass : It is the most common symptom of breast cancer. It can be unilateral or bilateral. It is painless. It is noticed during breast self-exam or doctor check-ups. It does not pass over time, it is permanent. A hard mass comes to hand. Not all breast masses are cancer. Sometimes cancer masses can also be tender, painful. For this reason, every mass found in the breast must be examined for cancer.
- The difference in symmetry between the two breasts,
- Inward collapse of the nipple or skin,
- Orange peel image on breast skin,
- Change of direction of the nipple to the right, left, up or down,
- Enlargement, swelling in all or part of a breast,
- Pain in the breast, especially during menstrual periods,
- Red or pink discharge from the nipple,
- Mass, swelling, stiffness in the armpit or on the collarbone.