Just as you’re doing your monthly exam in the mirror, you notice something different. There’s no lump, but your left breast looks off.
To be honest, it looks as if your nipple is indented. “This is weird,” you think. You check two more times for lumps, but you can’t find anything.
Should you be concerned?
When it comes to breast cancer, we’re trained to look for lumps. But in truth, there are other signs of breast cancer that women need to be aware of.
Here are five other signs of breast cancer that you need to know. When you’re doing your monthly breast checks, keep these telltale signs in mind. While what you find may be nothing, it’s still good to be informed.
1. Rash, Dimpling or Puckering
When it comes to detecting breast cancer, the appearance of the skin on your breasts is an important thing that many women don’t think to look for.
According to an article posted by Dr. Sandyha Pruthi of the Mayo Clinic, “breast cancer also can cause a skin rash that looks similar to mastitis — an infection of the breast tissue that most often affects women who are breast feeding.”
In addition, you may notice changes of the skin. Pruthi says that “other symptoms include skin changes on your breast, such as redness, dimpling or puckering of the skin.”
Further, you may notice that your nipple looks different. “Nipple changes, such as a nipple turning inward, or inverting, or becoming flatter than usual, may be symptoms of breast cancer. In some cases, discharge from a nipple also may signal breast cancer,” says Pruthi. You may also see flaking of the nipples.
So keep an eye out for symptoms like these when you check your breasts. And if you do detect something abnormal, see your doctor immediately.
2. Breast Pain
Ok, so we all know that our breasts are tender just before that time of the month. But what happens if they are tender and painful during other times?
While breast pain is an uncommon sign of breast cancer, it’s still one to be aware of. To understand this concept, it’s essential to look at the reasons behind breast pain in general.
“With non-cyclic breast pain, women commonly experience pain in one breast that seems unrelated to the menstrual cycle, and is not related (to) other obvious causes, such as trauma or pregnancy,” according to Breastlink, a website chock full of breast cancer information. “The pains can occur anywhere in either breast, but often start in the nipple and radiate to the armpit.”
Breastlink says that there can be a pattern to this kind of pain. This begins with a jolting type of pain or a movement-triggered pain. Pain like this is rarely a sign of cancer, but should be evaluated by a medical professional if it occurs for more than two months.
“There are, however, rare cases in which breast pain is the first symptom of a breast cancer, and the physical examination and initial imaging studies (including ultrasound) are normal,” Breastlink reports. “In my experience, there are some clues in the pattern of breast cancer-related pain that should lead the physician to be suspicious that a cancer might be the cause. The pains tend to be focal, i.e. in one spot in the breast. The pain also tends to get steadily worse over time. In other words, one spot in the breast is causing pain, and the pain is getting worse over a period of several weeks.”
If you notice pain that does not go away, see your physician. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?
3. Swelling of the Breast
Our breasts naturally swell near the time of our periods. However, if you’re noticing swelling on a regular basis, this could be a sign of breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, “breast swelling can be caused by inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a particularly aggressive form of the disease.”
The American Cancer Society says that “inflammatory breast cancer displays the same symptoms that may occur with inflammation, like swelling, skin redness, and an orange peel like texture of the skin.”
It is important to note that IBC is not common. “There is some disagreement in the numbers, but IBC probably accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States. Some experts believe that IBC may be more common, but diagnosing it is often difficult. This can mean the disease is not being reported as often as it should be,” according to the American Cancer Society.
4. Itching of the Breasts
There’s nothing more frustrating than itching, especially in the breasts. While this is often nothing to worry about, it can also indicate an underlying issue.
“Rarely, an itchy breast or nipple can be the symptom of a more serious medical condition. Paget disease of the breast, a rare form of cancer, causes breast and nipple itching,” according to Healthline. “This type of cancer specifically affects the nipple, although a cancerous tumor is often found in the breast, as well. Early Paget disease symptoms can mimic atopic dermatitis or eczema. Other symptoms include a flattened nipple, redness, a lump in the breast, discharge from the nipple, and skin changes on the nipple or breast.”
So what does an itchy breast include?
“An itchy breast or nipple causes the urge to scratch at your skin. The discomfort can range from mild to severe and may be an occasional or constant urge,” according to Healthline. “Scratching can cause the delicate skin to become red, swollen, cracked, or thickened. While scratching may temporarily relieve the urge, it can also damage the skin.”
Healthline says to seek medical advice if these symptoms persist for more than a few days or become worse. In addition, if you notice a strange discharge, pain, changes to the nipple, breast tissue that feels thicker than usual, or skin changes that look like an orange peel, see a doctor immediately.
5. Pain in the Armpit
We often associate armpit pain with an infection. However, it can also be a sign of breast cancer.
“Swelling or lumps around your collarbone or armpits can be caused by breast cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in those areas. The swelling may occur even before you can feel a lump in your breast, so if you have this symptom, be sure to see a doctor,” according to the American Cancer Society.
If you do notice pain or swelling of the armpit or the area around your collarbone, see your doctor immediately. Don’t dismiss this concern.