Breast Cancer
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?
Early in the disease, the only symptom may be a painless lump in the breast. This lump must be about the size of the fingertip before it can be felt. It can be anywhere in the breast. The lump is usually very hard and may not move when touched.
At a later stage in the disease, the person may have the following symptoms of breast cancer:
breast or nipple skin that is warm, red, swollen, or scaly
change in the shape or size of the breast
a lump or thickening near the breast, or in the underarm
nipple discharge that is not breast milk
nipple tenderness
a nipple that is turned inward, or inverted
a rash around the nipple that may bleed, itch, or cause skin breakdown
ridges or pits in the breast
skin that is dimpled like an orange
When the disease has advanced further, the person may have swelling in the lymph nodes in the armpit. He or she can also have symptoms related to the spread of the cancer. For instance, breast cancer that has spread to the bone will cause pain in the affected area.
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