Considering that we’ve already talked about some of the symptoms of breast cancer, you might be wondering what the first red flag of breast cancer is. The answer to that question is that there are a lot of signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and the first red flag may not necessarily be a lump.
HealthTap brings you basic health-related knowledge, which can help you identify and answer your health queries efficiently.
Primary breast cancer
Symptoms of primary breast cancer can vary, but there are certain red flags that should alert your doctor. This includes changes in the breast or skin texture, or the presence of a lump. These are usually seen before breast cancer spreads.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, you are at a higher risk. Women with an inherited predisposition to cancer may be at a four to sevenfold higher risk than women who do not have this genetic trait. These women may also be prescribed medicines to reduce their risk.
If your doctor suspects that you have breast cancer, you may have diagnostic imaging tests such as a mammogram or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. These tests can help you identify breast cancer early and may help detect invasive breast cancer. You may also have a biopsy taken to confirm your diagnosis.
Secondary breast cancer
Symptoms of secondary breast cancer can be different depending on the location of the cancer. It’s important to get treatment when possible to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patient.
The best way to detect secondary breast cancer is to talk to your doctor and get a diagnosis. In some cases, blood tests can tell whether breast cancer has spread. In other cases, a biopsy may be required to find out the cancer cell receptors. In other cases, chemotherapy or targeted drugs may be used to shrink cancer.
Having a full-body imaging test is also a good idea. This can include a CT scan of the chest, pelvis, and abdomen. A PET-CT can also be helpful.
Breast cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver and lungs. This can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath or an achy chest.
Symptoms that aren’t lumps
Symptoms of breast cancer that don’t lump are much more common than most people realize. In fact, about 15% of breast cancer cases don’t have lumps. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to get checked out by your doctor.
Breast changes can be caused by a variety of things, from pregnancy to menopause. However, most of these changes are not cancerous. Getting checked out for these changes is important because they can be a sign of breast cancer.
The most obvious breast cancer symptom is a lump. This lump can be small, soft, or hard, but most of the time it’s made of fibrous tissue. The lump may feel like a knot or a lumpy ball.
Other symptoms of breast cancer that don’t lump are changes in the size or shape of your breasts. These changes are known as fibrocystic changes.
Inflammatory breast cancer
Identifying inflammatory breast cancer can be a confusing experience. This cancer may be mistaken for another type of locally advanced breast cancer or infection. It is also difficult to diagnose due to its lobular or dense appearance.
If you experience symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer, make an appointment with your doctor. Getting diagnosed early will help you get the best treatment possible. You will need to have a physical exam and a breast core biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
You may also need to undergo additional tests to determine if cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Whether or not you need chemotherapy will depend on your medical history and the stage of your cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Family history of breast cancer
Having a family history of breast cancer is a strong risk factor for developing the disease. According to a study, women with a family history are about two to three times more likely to develop breast cancer than women without a family history. However, the link between family history and the severity of the disease at the time of diagnosis is less well understood.
Hereditary breast cancer families have a strong tendency to have multiple affected individuals. These families tend to have bilateral disease and may have multiple primary tumors.
Some of the genes that increase breast cancer risk are known. There are several different genes that may increase the risk of breast cancer, including BRCA1, BRCA2, and STK11. These genes can be tested. In some cases, genetic testing may be able to determine if there is an inherited defect.
