6 Early Warning Signs That Breast Cancer Is Growing In Your Body

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

Current year estimates for breast cancer

The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2016 are:

• About 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 61,000 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
• About 40,450 women will die from breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the number one cancer that kills women. While age,diet, physical activity, and lifestyle  play an important role in development of breast cancer, an estimated 15 percent of women fall victim due to genetic susceptibility.

Breast cancer is a malignancy (abnormal cells) arising in the mammary glands.  It affects both men and women, although it is far more common in women.

Learning to recognize the physical signs of breast cancer may save your life – early diagnosis is key to treatment and recovery. The warning signs of breast cancer are usually visual which can include lumps found within the breast and nearby lymph nodes. Non visual signs include pain and skin irritation around the breast area.

6 Warning Signs of Breast Cancer You Shouldn't Ignore

1) Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast.

You should always perform a monthly self-examination of your breasts. Be   sure to feel all areas of the breasts and underarms for any abnormalities. A painless lump or thickening in the breast or the armpit is one of the most common breast cancer symptoms. If you discover a lump, call your physician immediately.

2) A change in the size or shape of the breast.

It's common for a breast tumor to alter the shape or size of an affected breast

3) Nipple discharge or tenderness

Discharge from one nipple may be a sign of breast cancer, especially if it appears without squeezing the nipple and is blood-stained.

4) An inverted nipple

5 A sore or ulcer on the breast that does not heal

6) A change in the way the skin of the breast, nipple, or areola.

The darker area of skin around the nipple — looks or feels. For example, the breast may feel warm, tender, or swollen, or look red and scaly

Late signs and symptoms

As the cancer grows larger, these are the symptoms than can occur:

• an "orange peel" texture to the skin
• bone pain
• nausea
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• buildup of fluid around the lungs
• headache
• double vision
• muscle weakness

Symptoms of breast cancer in men include a lump in the breast, nipple pain and tenderness, fluid from the nipple, inversion or retraction of the nipple, and sores around the nipple.

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