Breast cancer often starts with little changes that are easy to miss. Knowing these early warning signs can make a big difference in how well you get diagnosed, treated, and live. Dr. Sunny Jain, Senior Consultant and Head of Medical Oncology at Accord Super Speciality Hospital in Faridabad, says that a lump in the breast or armpit is the first warning that women should never overlook.
Dr. Jain told that it’s important for women to be aware of their breasts, get regular screenings, and know how breast tissue changes as they get older.
The First and Most Important Sign of Danger
Having a lump in the breast is the first and most important sign of breast cancer. Don’t let it go. Dr. Sunny Jain says, “If you notice a new lump, swelling, thickening, or a change in the size or shape of the breast, see your doctor right away.”
Not all lumps are malignant; a lot of them are not. But ignoring them can make treatment take longer when it counts most.
Other Important Signs of Breast Cancer
Dr. Jain lists a few other indicators that should make you worry:
- – Skin dimpling that looks like the texture of an orange peel
- – Pain that won’t go away in the breast or nipples
- – Nipple retraction (turning inward)
- – Nipple secretion that isn’t breast milk
- – Lymph nodes that are swollen under the arm or near the collarbone
- – Changes in the skin or nipple, like puckering, turning inside out, or changing color
Why it’s important to do self-exams
Dr. Jain said that women should check their breasts once a month, preferably after their period.
Younger women often have denser, firmer breasts because of glandular tissue.
As more fat builds up, older women’s breasts may feel softer.
“Use the flat of your fingers when you look at anything. He says, “Start with light pressure and work your way up to deeper pressure, but never so hard that it hurts.”
When to Get Medical Help
If a lump feels different from normal breast tissue and doesn’t go away, you need to see a doctor very once. A core biopsy is still the best way to make a diagnosis, even if the results of a mammography or ultrasound are not clear.
Dr. Jain says:
A lot of lumps could be benign fibroadenomas.
If you have a family history of early breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or male breast cancer, you may need to get genetic testing.
Choices for treating breast cancer
Depending on the stage, kind, receptor status, and age, treatments may include:
- – Operation
- – Chemotherapy
- – Radiation therapy
- – Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy
- – Hormonal Treatment
Dr. Jain says:
“Any woman over 40 with a lump in her breast should be thought to have breast cancer until proven otherwise.”
Takeaway: Finding it early can save lives.
You need to be careful about your breast health. Regular self-exams, being aware of small changes, getting a diagnosis early, and taking family history into account are all important stages.
“Don’t ignore even small changes in your breast.” Dr. Sunny Jain says, “Early detection saves lives.”