What Are the Warning Signs of Breast Cancer?

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Men and breast cancer

Breast cancer isn’t typically associated with men. However, male breast cancer can occur in rare instances at any age, although it’s more common in older men.

Many people don’t realize that men have breast tissue too, and those cells can undergo cancerous changes. Because male breast cells are much less developed than women’s breast cells, breast cancer in men isn’t as common.

The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is a lump in the breast tissue.

Other than a lump, symptoms of breast cancer in men include:

thickening of the breast tissue
nipple discharge
redness or scaling of the nipple
a nipple that retracts or turns inward
unexplained redness, swelling, skin irritation, itchiness, or rash on the breast

Most men don’t regularly check their breast tissue for signs of lumps, so male breast cancer is often diagnosed much later.

Breast exams

When you visit your doctor with concerns about breast pain, tenderness, or a lump, there are common tests they might perform.

Physical examination

Your doctor will examine your breasts and the skin on your breasts, as well as check for nipple problems and discharge. They may also feel your breasts and armpits to look for lumps.

Medical history

Your doctor will ask you questions about your health history, including any medications you might be taking, as well as the medical history of immediate family members.

Because breast cancer can sometimes be related to your genes, it’s important to tell your doctor about any family history of breast cancer. Your doctor will also ask you about your symptoms, including when you first noticed them.

Mammogram

Your doctor may request a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast, to help distinguish between a benign and malignant mass.

Ultrasound

Ultrasonic sound waves can be used to produce an image of breast tissue.

MRI

Your doctor may suggest an MRI scan in conjunction with other tests. This is another noninvasive imaging test used to examine breast tissue.

Biopsy

This involves removing a small amount of breast tissue to be used for testing.

Types of breast cancer

There are two categories that reflect the nature of breast cancer:

Noninvasive (in situ) cancer is cancer that hasn’t spread from the original tissue. This is referred to as stage 0.
Invasive (infiltrating) cancer is cancer that has spread to surrounding tissues. These are categorized as stages 1, 2, 3, or 4.

The tissue affected determines the type of cancer:

Ductal carcinoma is a cancer that forms in the lining of the milk ducts. This is the most common type of breast cancer.
Lobular carcinoma is cancer in the lobules of the breast. The lobules are where milk is produced.
Sarcoma is cancer in the breast’s connective tissue. This is a rare type of breast cancer.

Genes and hormones affect cancer growth

Geneticists are starting to learn how genes affect the growth of cancer and have even identified one: the HER2 gene. This gene fuels growth of breast cancer cells. Medications can help shut this gene down.

Like genes, hormones may also speed up the growth of some types of breast cancers that have hormone receptors.

If a cancer is estrogen receptor-positive, it responds to estrogen.
If a cancer is progesterone receptor-positive, it responds to progesterone.
If a cancer is hormone receptor-negative, it has no hormone receptors.

Treatments for breast cancer

Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatments can vary. However, there are some common practices doctors and specialists use to combat breast cancer:

A lumpectomy is when your doctor removes the tumor while leaving your breast intact.
A mastectomy is when your doctor surgically removes all of your breast tissue including the tumor and connecting tissue.
Chemotherapy is the most common cancer treatment, and it involves the use of anticancer drugs. These drugs interfere with cells’ ability to reproduce.
Radiation uses X-rays to treat cancer directly.
Hormone and targeted therapy can be used when either genes or hormones play a part in the cancer’s growth.

Signs of recurrence

Despite initial treatment and success, breast cancer can sometimes come back. This is called recurrence. Recurrence happens when a small number of cells escape the initial treatment.

Symptoms of a recurrence in the same place as the first breast cancer are very similar to symptoms of the first breast cancer. They include:

a new breast lump
changes to the nipple
redness or swelling of the breast
a new thickening near the mastectomy scar

If breast cancer comes back regionally, it means that the cancer has returned to the lymph nodes or near to the original cancer but not exactly the same place. The symptoms may be slightly different.

Symptoms of a regional recurrence may include:

lumps in your lymph nodes or near the collarbone
chest pain
pain or loss of sensation in your arm or shoulder
swelling in your arm on the same side as the original breast cancer

If you’ve had a mastectomy or other surgery related to breast cancer, you might get lumps or bumps caused by scar tissue in the reconstructed breast. This isn’t cancer, but you should let your doctor know about them so they can be monitored.

Outlook and prevention

As with any cancer, early detection and treatment are major factors in determining the outcome. Breast cancer is easily treated and usually curable when detected in the earliest of stages.

The American Cancer Society says the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer that is stage 0 to stage 2 is more than 90 percent. The 5-year survival rate for stage 3 cancer is more than 70 percent.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, according to the World Health OrganizationTrusted Source. Whether you’re concerned about breast pain or tenderness, it’s important to stay informed on risk factors and warning signs of breast cancer.

The best way to fight breast cancer is early detection. Talk to your doctor about when you should start scheduling regular mammograms.

If you’re worried that your breast pain or tenderness could be something serious, make an appointment with your doctor today. If you find a lump in your breast (even if your most recent mammogram was normal), see your doctor.