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Breast ulceration, reshaping, enlargement of the nipple and discharge. Breast cancer is manifested not only by a lump. – These changes are usually painless, which means that women report to the doctor late – says Prof. Rafał Matkowski, surgeon, oncologist, head of the Breast Disease Center at the Lower Silesian Cancer Center.
- Aldona Sosnowska-Szczuka, journalist and author of the book, is an example of a patient who noticed changes other than the nodule, which indicated a developing cancer
- The so-called peau d’orange, or the symptom of the “orange peel” on the skin of the breast
- The formation of pits in the swollen skin of the nipple under pressure from a finger or the spontaneous formation of dimples in the skin may also suggest breast cancer.
- – Participation in mammography screening tests should reach a minimum of 70%. target population. Meanwhile, in Poland it is less than 40 percent. And, unfortunately, it fell – emphasizes prof. Rafał Matkowski
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
The journalist Aldona Sosnowska-Szczuka lived intensely. She spent most of her time working, training three or five days a week in her spare time. “During the year and a half that preceded my illness, I got up at 5.30 or 6.00 in the morning to go to the gym,” writes the author of the book. “To win you have to play. Breast cancer ».
One day she noticed that there was something wrong with one of her breasts.
«She became tender and I began to feel a slight pain in her. However, since I was doing research regularly and it has not been even half a year since the last one, I didn’t worry too much about it. Not like I should, anyway. Then I did one of the stupidest things in my life, and at the same time one of the most stupid things that could be done in this situation – instead of going to the doctor immediately, I decided to wait. I don’t know what I was counting on. That it will pass like a cold after seven days? » – he says.
She was worried, but Christmas was just around the corner. And that meant a hot time in the editorial office. Meanwhile, a slight reddening appeared on the skin of the breast. And the final diagnosis was ruthless: breast cancer.
Breast cancer can manifest itself not only as a lump!
Author’s story «To win you have to play. Breast cancer. Get regular check-ups, eat well, exercise and live fully breast »proves that breast cancer can manifest itself not only in the form of a lump that future cancer patients can feel with their fingers during self-examination.
The statistical data is terrifying, because breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm and is the most common cause of death not only in Poland, but also in most developed countries of the world: each year this type of cancer is diagnosed in over 1 million and 600 thousand people. female patients.
In Poland, only in 2018, 18 thousand women were registered among women. 869 cases and 6 thousand. 895 deaths because of this.
The rest of the article under the video:
What are the unusual symptoms of breast cancer?
We ask Professor Rafał Matkowski, a surgeon, oncologist and head of the Breast Disease Center at the Lower Silesian Cancer Center, about the non-obvious changes that should worry us in the context of breast cancer.
Edyta Brzozowska, Medonet: It seems that thanks to various social intercourse women are more and more educated in breast self-examination. However, not only the nodule felt with the fingers may indicate a developing neoplastic disease. What are the other non-obvious symptoms of breast cancer?
Prof. dr hab. n. med. Rafał MatkowskiTo begin with, the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. The highest number of cases is observed after the age of 50. Almost half of the respondents developed cancer between the ages of 50 and 69. Before the age of 20, diagnosis of breast cancer is sporadic.
Indeed, the most common symptom of breast cancer is a tumor that is distinctly different from the surrounding tissue. In addition to the lump, patients notice a change in the shape of the breast or enlargement of the nipple. These changes are usually painless, which means that women report to a doctor late.
In many cases of cancer, changes in the nipples are accompanied by a lump or thickening in the axillary, supraclavicular, subclavian, or neck regions. On the other hand, in some cases the symptom of breast cancer is enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes without the primary tumor in the breast.
Such a thickening is clearly noticeable?
Yes, especially since it usually occurs on one side. Fortunately, the breasts are symmetrical and both sides of the body are easy to compare. And any change in symmetry is an indicator that should prompt a woman to come for a consultation. If the asymmetry is not caused by other factors, for example an injury, it is worth seeing a doctor. Not necessarily to the oncologist right away, but to the gynecologist or family doctor. Unfortunately, there are few doctors in Poland specializing in oncology, only about XNUMX.
Should the discharge from the nipple also prompt a woman to seek immediate oncological consultation?
Especially when the secretion of fluid is spontaneous and not caused by trauma or squeezing.
The discharge can take many forms. It can be serous, milky, or congestive. And while the congestive or milky secretions are normal and do not cause anxiety, the bloody or serous, transparent one may be disturbing. But a bloody or clear and sticky nipple discharge is a relatively rare symptom of breast cancer. It is usually caused by the presence of a benign intraductal papilloma.
There are many non-cancerous causes that can cause a nipple leak: fibrocystic breast disease, infection, use of contraceptives, sedatives, and hormonal imbalances.
- Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer – analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes available at Medonet Market
What is congestive discharge?
The female mammary glands secrete milk in nursing mothers. Even if they stop feeding the baby, the milk lines are still there. The congestive discharge consists of exfoliating epithelia and tissue debris from the surface of these glands. The same process of exfoliation takes place on the skin whose epidermis is exfoliated. In the mammary gland, as in the sweat and sebaceous glands, such residual resources can accumulate.
What else might indicate the presence of breast cancer?
The clinical features of breast cancer also include skin lesions. This may include erythema, swelling, and satellite nodules, i.e. lumps near the dominant tumor. The patient should be alarmed when she notices irregularly drawn veins on the breast, as well as puffing of the nipple.
Cancer developing in the breast may be indicated by peau d’orange, a symptom of “orange peel”, the formation of pits in the swollen skin of the nipple under the pressure of a finger, or the spontaneous formation of dimples in the skin.
Can breast ulcers also happen?
This symptom may be a malignant disease. The nipple can also be ulcerated in the case of Paget’s disease. Symptoms of Paget’s cancer can include discoloration, bleeding, itching, thickening and ulceration of the nipple. Paget’s disease usually accompanies pre-invasive or invasive breast cancer. The diagnosis is made on the basis of a histopathological examination of the specimen taken from the nipple.
One should not forget about the rare concern of breast cancer, which is inflammatory cancer – it is a very advanced and very dangerous clinical situation, and most patients in this stage of the disease have lymph node metastases.
Does breast cancer hurt?
Soreness is very rarely a symptom of cancer. Especially early breast cancer does not cause any pain. We do not consider this symptom as something that may indicate the presence of a neoplastic disease.
Hence the calls for regular mammography tests?
Most highly developed countries – including Poland, which mimics their experiences – have introduced population-based breast cancer screening. Participation in these studies should reach a minimum of 70 percent. target population. Meanwhile, in Poland it is less than 40 percent. And unfortunately it has fallen in recent years. And if women did such research, there would be fewer advanced cancers.
Not every woman between the ages of 50 and 69 knows that in our country she has the right to free of charge mammography examination.
Which she should do every two years. We strongly encourage you to do so. Mammography tests are a boon that the Ministry of Health, the National Health Fund and our state give to their citizens. They reduce the risk of dying from cancer by 30-40%.
Breast cancer diagnosed early is better and more effective. We perform these tests in a strictly defined age group of women: from 50 to 69 years of age. We know that the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and that breast cancer is very rare in men. They are diagnosed with less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases: in Poland in 2018, 154 such cases and 75 deaths were registered in men.
Prophylactically, it is also worth performing a genetic test of the most common mutations associated with breast and ovarian cancer. The study can be purchased in a mail-order version, which is convenient and safe. We collect a sample for testing and send it to the laboratory. After 2-4 weeks we have the results.
How do patients react when they hear the diagnosis: do you have cancer?
They are terrified, lost. And the diagnosis causes them a psychological shock. But it is a consolation that cancer today is not necessarily a death sentence. After all, there has been so much progress in diagnostics and therapy that nowadays cancer has become a chronic disease, not a killing one.
We treat breast cancer effectively, so patients can live for a very long time after being diagnosed and treated. I also have the impression that the fear of cancer is getting lower because the awareness that it can be cured is greater.
Patients should not be afraid to see a doctor and start active therapy.
Preferably with the help of a psycho-oncologist who will help in this difficult life situation.
In the centers of the National Oncology Network, psycho-oncologists are available to patients. Unfortunately, most patients do not have such support, because they do not receive treatment, for example, in the Lower Silesian Cancer Center or other networked units – only where they fall, in places not adapted to comprehensive treatment.
This may interest you:
- How to detect breast cancer at the earliest stage?
- Cancer doesn’t have to mean breast loss
- Breast cancer – what can I do to reduce my risk?