Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops in or around the breast, typically either in the milk-producing ducts, glandular tissues (or lobules) or within the tissues of the breast. It remains one of the most common cancers among women. According to the statistics, 1 in 8 women in the United States will have breast cancer in her lifetime. The risk of developing breast cancer is a combination of several factors. However, the main factor is the age: in the majority of cases, women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50-years of age.

Women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are also more prone to breast cancer, especially at younger ages. Since it is a common form of cancer, it is extremely important to know early warning signs of breast cancer:

1. Changes to skin structure
A growing tumor might cause inflammation leading to the changes to the skin’s structure. Here are examples of possible changes:

• Skin that looks scaly, dry and sunburned around the nipple and areola;
• Skin thickening

In some cases, skin might also become itchy, though it is not very common. However, it is important to know that the changes to the skin’s structure might be caused by other diseases and health conditions, including eczema and dermatitis.

2. Nipple discharge
The discharge from the nipples is a common symptom of breast cancer. It might range in color and consistency, and be thick, thin, green, yellow, milky, or red. It is normal for a woman, however, to have nipple discharge while breastfeeding. Other than that, it is highly recommended to see a doctor. There might be other reasons for nipple discharge, including:

• Side effects of birth control pills;
• Breast infections;
• Side effects of other medications;
• Body physiology variations;
• Thyroid disease.

3. Dimpling
Skin dimpling is among the most common breast cancer symptoms. Dimpling is caused by the building up of lymph fluids in the breast. Since this change in the skin resembles the surface of an orange, it is often called “peau d’orange”. If you notice swelling or dimpling of the breast, it is extremely important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

4. Changes in lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are small collections of immune system tissue that are responsible for filtering the fluids in the body and catching various harmful cells, including viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells. If there are cancer cells in the breast, then the underarm and armpit lymph nodes usually become swollen and tender to the touch and palpation. However, swelling of lymph nodes might be also caused by breast infections.

5. Pain in breast and nipples
Though in most cases breast cancer is painless, sometimes it might cause the feelings of discomfort and tenderness. Many women describe this symptom as a burning sensation.

6. Redness
Breast cancer often leads to the skin’s discoloration or even bruising. The skin often looks red, bright pink, purple and has a bluish tint. Therefore, if a woman with such symptoms has not had any breast injury or trauma recently, she should see a doctor immediately. However, even if the trauma was the cause of discoloration, it is still important to seek medical advice if the discoloration does not disappear.