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Among the rapidly increasing health risks among women, breast cancer has become the most serious and matter of concern today. Generally, whenever there is talk of breast cancer among women, the first thought that comes to mind is that a lump will be felt in or around the chest, only then this disease can occur. This is the reason why most women consider feeling the lump by touching it as the only test and if no lump is felt, then they consider themselves completely safe. Well-known oncologists and cancer experts in India and abroad have termed this common belief as a big and dangerous myth. Experts clearly say that the absence of lump in the breast is not at all a guarantee that a woman is completely safe from breast cancer. Many times cancer starts growing silently in the body even without any initial lump and its symptoms appear in very different forms. Due to lack of knowledge about these early signs, women often ignore it considering it to be normal, which can later prove fatal. Today we are going to tell you what are the hidden symptoms of breast cancer without lumps which should never be ignored.
According to medical science, not all types of breast cancer start as a tumor or lump. In the early stages of some specific and aggressive types of breast cancer, such as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), there may not be a hard lump inside the breast. Instead, they spread as cancer cells within milk ducts or skin cells. Since no hard lump can be detected in the traditional way, women and sometimes even the beginning doctors misunderstand it. This is why it is a bit challenging to catch it in time, and by the time its symptoms become clearly visible, the disease has progressed well. That is why medical experts repeatedly warn that just finding a lump cannot be the only measure of cancer prevention.
Even if you do not have any lump in your breast, you still need to be very alert about your physical changes. According to cancer experts, some other early and very important symptoms of breast cancer without lump are as follows:
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Changes in skin texture: If the skin of the breast suddenly starts looking rough or thick like orange peel texture, then it can be an alarm bell.
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Indentation of nipple: If a woman’s nipple suddenly starts turning inwards or changes its direction, do not consider it normal.
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Redness or swelling on the skin: If the breast skin becomes red, swollen or feels extremely hot to touch without any injury or infection.
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Abnormal discharge from the nipple: If blood, yellow or brown watery fluid starts coming out from the nipple on its own apart from the time of breastfeeding.
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Uneven change in breast shape or color: There is a sudden huge difference in the size of both the breasts or the skin color starts changing.
Since the symptoms of lumpless breast cancer are difficult to detect in the early stages, the importance of regular screening and medical checkups increases. After the age of 40, every woman should get tests like mammography and ultrasound done from time to time as per the advice of her doctor. Additionally, during self-examination at home, not only the lump but also skin changes and the condition of the nipple should be closely monitored. Health experts say that if any of these suspicious symptoms persist for more than two weeks, then one should immediately contact a good gynecologist or oncologist without any hesitation. If caught in the early stages, breast cancer is completely treatable and the patient’s life can be saved.