Breast cancer is Breast cancer symptoms vary, and may not be the same from person to person. You may experience some, or even none or all of the common symptoms. This is why it's important to get checked out by a doctor promptly if you suspect you may be experiencing breast cancer symptoms, or have any questions about your breast cancer symptoms.

Some women may experience very obvious and alarming breast cancer symptoms, such as a bloody or clear leakage from the nipple. Often, this happens when a palpable lump is also present. Other more obvious symptoms could manifest as a change or deforming of the breast or nipple shape. Dimpling or indentations are one indicator of this happening.

Breast cancer symptoms can be confused with the natural state of the breast at certain points in a woman's menstrual cycle. For example, a woman may have swollen and sore breasts during her cycle due to normal hormone fluctuations. This is not necessarily a symptom of breast cancer. If you have not experienced this type of symptom and are worried, schedule an examination with your doctor.

The one symptom most people are familiar with is a lump. Many times a lump can be an early sign of breast cancer, and should be checked by your doctor immediately. The lump should feel firm, but with some give, not unlike a piece of chewed gum. Lumps are generally not painful (painful lumps are often a sign of something else, such as cysts). These lumps can occur anywhere, but most commonly they appear under the nipple and at the outer edge of the breast near the armpit.

Having lumpy breasts does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. Your may feel lumps that are fibrous tissue and not life-threatening at all. Talk to your doctor about how to check for lumps when you have fibrous breasts. Studies have shown that many lumps are not able to be detected by self exams because they are very small, or hidden deep under the surface of the breast.

Once breast cancer has advanced, the symptoms can include pain in the chest or breast bone, ulcerations (sores) on the skin, swelling and soreness of the arm on the side of the breast cancer, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Once the cancer has progressed to these stages, it becomes harder to treat. The best diagnosis and breast cancer information will come from your doctor, so it's important to discuss any new or unusual symptoms as they're discovered.

If you are currently experiencing breast cancer symptoms, it is imperative to consult your doctor immediately. Some women may experience very obvious and alarming cancer symptoms, such as bloody or clear leakage from the nipple. Often, this happens when a palpable lump is also present. Other, more obvious, symptoms could manifest as a change of the breast or nipple's shape. Dimpling or indentations are other signs of cancer. Whether you are trying to answer the question, "what is breast cancer?", or have a reason for more personal concern, your doctor will have the latest and best breast cancer information.

Article by Kimberly Shannon

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