Don’t Ignore the Signs of Breast Cancer
Despite growing awareness of the signs of breast cancer, many women ignore symptoms or changes to their breasts.
This is usually due to common misconceptions about breast cancer, or a feeling that it won’t happen to them.
Ignoring the signs of breast cancer can allow cells to spread beyond the breast itself, making it much more difficult to treat.
Here are three reasons women often ignore the signs of breast cancer:
- I can’t have breast cancer, I’m under 50. Although the risk of developing breast cancer does increase with age, and the majority of cases diagnosed are in women over 50, the disease can strike at any time so visit your doctor if you have signs of breast cancer, whatever your age.
- I don’t have a family history of breast cancer. There are a number of different types of breast cancer, and while some cases are hereditary the majority are not. One in nine women will suffer from breast cancer at some point in their lives and many won’t have a family history. Check out our post on hereditary signs of breast cancer to see if you are at increased risk.
- I’m due for a mammogram next year. Many women put off visiting their doctor when they observe signs of breast cancer because they think a routine mammogram will pick up if anything is wrong. There’s a good chance of recovering from breast cancer but only if it is detected in its early stages. Mammograms are designed to detect lumps that are too small to feel. If you can observe signs of breast cancer you need to see you doctor immediately as the cancer may be spreading and growing and by the time you have a mammogram it may be too late for treatment.
Signs of Breast Cancer
Here are some common signs of breast cancer: 
- Thickened tissue or a lump in the breast
- Swelling or a lump in the armpit
- Change in shape or size of the breast
- Dimpling of the skin of the breast
- Discharge from the nipple
- Inverted nipple
- Breast or armpit pain
- Rash around the nipple
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