Other indications that your breast lump is cancerous
You know that a lump may be a sign of breast cancer. But that alone doesn’t conclude a diagnosis. However, there are some types of breast cancer, like inflammatory breast cancer, that don’t usually cause a lump. So, it’s worth knowing other signs and symptoms of breast cancer, such as:
- swelling around your breast, armpit, or collarbone
- dimpling of your skin, which can resemble an orange peel
- red or discolored, dry, flaky, or thickening skin on your breast or nipple
- unusual nipple discharge, especially blood
- the nipple is turning inward
- any change in size or shape of a breast
- pain
Severe breast cancer can cause symptoms beyond your breast, such as:
- unexplained weight loss
- shortness of breath
- bone pain
Breast cancer can also happen to men and the symptoms are very much the same. Of course, having one or more symptoms doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, but the only way to know for certain is to call a doctor as quickly as possible.
Breast cancer is most common in people who:
- are female
- experience the natural aging process: the chance of breast cancer increases with age, especially after 50
- have a personal or family history of breast cancer
- inherit certain genetic mutations
- have their first period before 12 years old or menopause [2] after 55 years old
- experience physical inactivity
- have overweight or obesity
- take hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) [3]
- consume alcohol
Scientists have also traced certain diseases such as breast cancer to the stress that comes from enduring racism, discrimination, and other racist systems.