Friday, July 13, 2012

Past History Of Breast Cancer - What Are The The Signs Of Breast Cancer?

By Daniel Turbin


The history of breast cancer stretches back many thousands of years, it would be difficult to figure out exactly when was breast cancer first found in society but it has been around a very long time. The way the disease is treated and diagnosed has dramatically changed in that time as has our knowledge of medicine. Where once a radical mastectomy was the usual response in the history of breast cancer treatment we have cancer fighting drugs and gene therapies that can prevent the disease in people that have high risk factors such as a family history of breast cancer. Thanks to this discovery breast cancer no longer has to be a scary death sentence, giving many thousands of women hope once again. Knowing that there are more options available if you are clinically determined to have breast cancer does not mean you should discard any potential signs and symptoms. It is still essential to discover any signs and symptoms early so that you have the best chance at being cured.

Women have grown up being told to check for lumps as well as abnormal shapes in their breasts, it seems another part of life to check every so often and make sure everything is alright, it's part of the dreaded visit to the gynecologist we endure each year as well. This is the most obvious symptom of breast cancer but it also happens to be one of the latest to show up, often once you feel or see a lump the cancer has been active for quite a while and may even have spread elsewhere. It is important to look out for other symptoms as well if you are at risk of developing breast cancer. If you are diagnosed you can also look further into your family history of breast cancer icd9 codes and then see what type specifically you are at risk for as many might even be benign.

Perhaps among the lesser known signs and symptoms of breast cancer is itchy as well as rashy skin on the breast. Inflammatory breast cancer is significantly less common but also easier to dismiss. The skin may become puckered or dimpled similar to orange peel as well as becoming red and scaly. There may also be some soreness which is similar to that felt during PMS, another thing that can easily be dismissed. The location of the problem could also mean its dismissal as mastitis or infection of the milk ducts. The trouble with inflammatory breast cancer is the fact that it is only about 3% of all diagnoses and usually they come late since it may not be in conjunction with the feared "lump" appearing but a rash alone.

Another change that can be an indication of breast cancer is any changes in the nipple. Just beneath the nipple is one of the most common areas for breast cancer and any changes in the nipple can be resulting from that. For instance if one nipple appears different - flat, inverted, or sticks up more, it could be a sign of something going on behind it. Probably the most common thing is a decrease in sensitivity, however this is so often disregarded since most women experience changes in their sensitivity during the month that it would be difficult to say this alone is a symptom.

Probably the most important symptom is that you have a discharge from the nipple if you are not pregnant or even breastfeeding, if this is accompanied with scaly or inflamed nipple skin then you may have mastitis or it could indeed be something worse so it is important to get it checked out.




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