What are the symptoms of breast cancer ?

The most common clinical sign is the appearance of a painless, hard, and irregularly contoured lump or mass in the breast. The breast may change in size or shape.

However, some cancers present as soft tumors with a rounded shape. These clinical signs are therefore ambiguous.

Consequently, any anomaly in a breast requires a thorough clinical examination by a specialist doctor. The doctor will prescribe medical imaging tests such as mammography, ultrasound, or MRI, capable of specifying the origin of the anomaly. This anomaly may turn out to be benign, but it is necessary not to delay consultation with the specialist doctor in order to rule out or confirm the presence of cancer.

More pronounced signs may appear: on the breast, the skin may be retracted or have an unusual consistency. Its appearance may resemble that of an orange peel.

Thickening of the skin of the breast, sometimes localized in an area, redness, eczema, or changes in appearance at the breast or nipple level may be observed. The nipple may also be retracted.

A discharge from the nipple, especially one that bleeds, the presence of a lump under the armpits, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss are other symptoms.

Several of these clinical signs may have been discovered during breast self-examination or by a specialist doctor during a consultation. However, it is more often during a screening mammogram and before the appearance of clinical signs that breast cancer will be discovered.

In summary... when is it prudent to consult ?

It is prudent to consult your general practitioner or gynecologist when you notice any of the following signs :

• A painless mass in the breast
• Swelling of a part of the breast without a distinct mass (less common)
• Changes in the skin of the breast such as irregularity, redness, or irritation
• Changes, pain, or retraction of the nipple
• Fatigue or unexplained weight loss (source : arcagy.org)