Overview
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Indian women and is now often found at a younger age than in the West. It usually appears first as a painless lump in the breast or armpit. The single most important fact is that when it is caught early, it is very treatable and often curable — which is why knowing what is normal for your body, and getting any new lump checked without delay, saves lives. Men can rarely get it too.
Symptoms
- A new painless lump in the breast or armpit
- A change in the size or shape of a breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin over the breast
- A nipple turning inward, or bloody or unusual discharge
- A rash, redness or scaling around the nipple
When to see a doctor
See a doctor promptly for any new breast lump, skin or nipple change, or discharge — even if it is painless. Early checking is what makes it curable.
Causes
The exact cause is unknown; risk rises with age, family history, certain inherited genes, early periods or late menopause, obesity and hormone factors.