Thousands of women are diagnosed with chest
cancer each year. For women, only lung cancer has
a higher death rate than chest cancer. While this
type of cancer can be deadly, there are warning
signs that can help you catch it early.
It isn’t exactly known why chest cancer develops,
but there are somefactors that seem to increase
your chances of developing chest cancer. Your age
(and gender) increase your risk; While men can be
diagnosed with chest cancer, it is one hundred
times mores common in women. The highest rate
of invasive chest cancer are found in women 55
and older.
There also seems to be a higher risk if your close
blood relatives had or have chest cancer. Also, the
risk of chest cancer increases with higher amounts
of alcohol use and obesity after menopause.
Knowing the risks and the symptoms of chest
cancer can significantly increase your chances of
catching the illness early. Luckily, there are some
things you can look for. While finding a lump in
your chest is a common symptom, there are others
signs to look for.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your
doctor immediately:
1. chest sizes
If the size of one chest enlarges significantly in a
short amount of time, this could be a warning sign
of chest cancer. BR*ASTS are normally different
sizes, but noticing a drastic increase in size or an
abnormal change in shape could be something to
be concerned about.
2. Swelling
Even if there is no lump present, swelling on your
chest (even in a small area) is not a good sign.
Swelling can also accompany fever-like symptoms;
if this is the case, your BR*ASTS will feel warm,
may become inflamed, become red or purple and
will swell. Immediately inform your doctor if you
experience these symptoms.
3. Abnormal nipples
Other than chest milk, any other discharge is not
normal. Decreased nipple sensitivity is also
something to be aware of. Additionally, if your
nipple retracts (pulls inward,) or is discolored, be
sure to call your doctor.
4. Redness or itchiness
Having a bumpy “orange peel” texture on your
chest or nipple area could very well be a symptom
of chest cancer. If you experience severe itching on
your chest and dermatologist visits (and creams)
don’t soothe your symptoms, call your doctor.
5. Noticing a lump
There are benign lumps that form in the chest that
may not be cancerous. However, if you notice a ma
$$ (that you haven’t noticed before, or that feels
harder than the surrounding lumps) schedule a
chest examination. Be sure to notice any sort of
abnormal ma$$ near your armpit; though it is not
in your chest, it could still be chest cancer.
6. chest Pain
This can be caused by a variety of other things that
aren’t cancer. Fluctuating hormones, some fertility
treatments, stress and wearing a br@ that doesn’t
fit right can all cause chest pain. If your pain isn’t
caused by this list or accompanies other
symptoms, contact your doctor.
Some women feel pain in their back or chest
instead of their chest. If this pain does not go away
with physical therapy or stretching, inform your
doctor.
Not all of these symptoms are symptoms of chest
cancer. If you get other treatments (like a cream or
antibiotic) for these symptoms, but you do not
notice a difference within a few days, be sure to
call your doctor and be a$$ertive about tests for
chest cancer.
Mammograms have significantly increased the
detection rate for chest cancer. Regularly schedule
these appointments if you are above the age of 40,
or if you have a family history of chest cancer.
However, there are things a mammogram cannot
detect. Having dense BR*ASTS make cancer harder
to detect even with a mammogram and helps the
cancer cells spread more rapidly. Talk to your
doctor for additional tests if you fit this description.
Be diligent with your own chest examinations and
be aware of what chest cancer symptoms look and
feel like. If you are at all concerned, make an
appointment with your doctor.
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