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Breast lump and armpit pain: What You Need to Know

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What You Need to Know

Finding breast cancer early usually makes it easier to treat. Along with getting regular screening mammograms, being aware of how your breasts look and feel is an important part of early detection. Some breast cancer signs are detected best by mammogram. Other signs may be more easily seen as changes in how the breasts look or feel.

It is important to know that not all changes in the breasts are cancer. Benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions are much more common than breast cancer. But it is important to let your health care team know about any changes in your breast so they can be looked into.

Below are some common breast symptoms that should be checked right away.

A lump in your breast

A lump or mass in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer. Lumps are often hard and painless, although some are painful. However, not all lumps are cancer. Benign breast conditions (like cysts) that can also cause lumps.

Still, it’s important to have your doctor check out any new lump or mass right away. If it does turn out to be cancer, the sooner it’s diagnosed the better.

Swelling in or around your breast, collarbone, or armpit

Swelling in these areas can occur for many reasons but may indicate cancer. Breast swelling can be caused by certain types of breast cancer.   Swelling or lumps around your collarbone or armpits can be caused by breast cancer that has spread to lymph nodes in those areas. The swelling can occur even before you can feel a lump in your breast. If you have swelling, be sure to let your health care team know as soon as possible.

Skin dimpling

If the skin of your breast starts to feel thicker and looks a bit like an orange peel, have it checked right away. This can be caused by mastitis. This infection is most common among women who are breast feeding but can happen in other women as well. Your doctor may choose to first treat you with antibiotics.

However, if your symptoms don’t improve after a week or so, you should get checked again. These symptoms can also be caused by inflammatory breast cancer. This form of breast cancer can look a lot like a breast infection but is less common and needs to be treated as soon as possible.

Nipple retraction

Breast cancer can sometimes cause your nipple to turn inward. If you notice a change in your nipple, get checked by your health care team right away. This could be a symptom of breast cancer. But nipple retraction can also occur with aging and non-cancer breast conditions.

Nipple or breast redness, dryness, flaking or thickening

Breast or nipple redness, dryness, flaking or thickening may be symptoms of infection or irritation. However, they may also be caused by breast cancer. For any of these types of changes, get checked out by your healthcare team as soon as possible.

Nipple discharge

Having anything other than milk come out of your nipple may be alarming.  In most cases it is caused by injury, infection, or a benign tumor (not cancer). However, breast cancer is a possibility, especially if the fluid is bloody, so have your health care team check it out.

Pain

Although most breast cancers do not cause pain in the breast or nipple, some do. More often, women have breast pain or discomfort related to their menstrual cycle. Also, some non-cancer breast conditions, such as mastitis, may cause a more sudden pain. However, if you have breast pain that is severe or persists, you should be checked by your health care team. You could have cancer or a benign condition that needs to be treated.

Breast health includes not only regular mammograms but also watching for changes in how your breasts look and feel. Become familiar with your breasts and report any changes to your healthcare team right away!

5 signs of breast cancer that aren’t a lump

For decades, the medical community and the media have waged an effective awareness campaign about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, educating the public about the importance of diligently monitoring their breasts for lumps. And the tactic has worked. Early detection has contributed to a 38 percent decline in breast cancer deaths in women from 1992 to 2018, according to the National Cancer Institute. While that’s an important step forward, many other abnormalities that may also indicate breast cancer are lesser known and discussed. Some, then, may be led to assume that no lump and no tumor mean no cancer, but that may be a dangerous conclusion to draw.

When most people think about breast cancer symptoms, they think of breast lumps. But doctors say visual changes may be especially key in helping detect breast cancer early. You may notice some of these changes just by changing the way you look at your reflection in the mirror, says Cynthia Lynch, MD, Medical Oncologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), Phoenix.

“You can see a lot of things just by looking at your breasts in the mirror. When your arms are by your side, you don’t always see everything,” says Dr. Lynch, Breast Cancer Program Clinical Advisor for CTCA®. “Put your hands on your hips or raise them up. Having arms in two different positions while looking is also helpful.”

In this article, we’ll discuss the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, including:

If you believe you’re experiencing some signs or symptoms of breast cancer and would like to talk to a breast cancer expert at CTCA about your diagnostic and treatment options, call us or chat online with a member of our team.

Warning signs

These other warning signs of breast cancer include:

Changes to the nipple and the surrounding area: Changes in the nipple area may be a genetic malformation or alteration, but nipple retraction—when the nipple becomes inverted—may be a sign of cancer. If the nipple wasn’t inverted before and becomes inverted, consult with your doctor.

Bloody nipple discharge: Bleeding from the nipple may be limited and difficult to see, but if you notice blood stains on your bra, pay attention. Clear or milky secretions may result from normal physiologic changes during pre-pubertal stages. But if the secretions are unusual, bloody or continuous, speak to your health care provider.

Change in color and/or thickening of skin on the breast: Known in the medical community as peau d’orange (a French term meaning skin of an orange), any dimpling or thickening of breast skin that resembles an orange rind is a red flag. These symptoms are often associated with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare but aggressive disease that usually does not involve a lump and may not be detected by a mammogram. IBC symptoms are caused by cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin.

Symptoms of IBC include:

  • Rash
  • Thickening of the skin
  • Shooting pain

Some changes are localized to the breast, upper abdomen or the rear part of the chest. Changes in color may be difficult to detect in African Americans and in obese patients with very large breasts. You may see changes in the breast from one day to the next, and skin changes may occur in less than six months.

Though IBC represents 1-3 percent of all breast cancers, it accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancer deaths.

Other signs

Other possible signs of IBC include:

  • Increased warmth in the breast
  • One breast appearing larger and feeling warmer and/or heavier than the other
  • Pain, itching or tenderness in the breast

A non-healing sore anywhere on the breast, including the nipple: A red, scaly, flaky nipple, and any persistent skin change, including blood or fluid from the nipple, may be a sign of Paget’s disease of the breast, another rare form of breast cancer. This disease originates in the nipple. It’s not usually invasive and is most commonly diagnosed in patients in their 70s and 80s.

Swelling of axillary lymph nodes (lymph nodes in the armpit): Some patients with breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes may have no symptoms in the breast or changes in the structure of the breast. But they feel something unusual under their arm. This may mean that cancer from the breast has traveled to the lymph nodes. These affected nodes may also be in the lower part of the neck if the cancer is a little more advanced. Cancer cells often use the lymphatic system to invade distant organs.

It’s important to also remember that not all breast lumps are signs of cancer, a fact that underscores why it’s important to be familiar with the look and feel of your breasts. “Have an awareness of your breasts,” Dr. Lynch says. “You need to touch them to be aware. Breast self-awareness is the terminology now used instead of a self-breast exam.” 

The Breast Cancer Centers at CTCA

At each of our CTCA Breast Cancer Centers, located in our hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix, our cancer care experts are devoted to a single mission: treating breast cancer patients with compassion and precision.

Each patient’s care team is led by a medical oncologist and may also include a breast surgeon, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Our pathologists and oncologists are experienced and trained in tools designed to diagnose, stage and treat the many types of breast cancer, from early-stage ductal carcinoma in situ to complex diseases such as triple-negative breast cancer and IBC. Genetic counseling and genetic testing are also available for qualifying patients.

Our patient-centered care model is designed to help you keep strong during treatment. Your multidisciplinary care team may recommend various evidence-informed supportive care services, including:

The entire team works together with a whole-person focus, which is at the heart of our centers’ dedication to personalized and comprehensive care.

If you believe you’re experiencing some signs or symptoms of breast cancer and would like to talk to a breast cancer expert at CTCA about your diagnostic and treatment options, call us or chat online with a member of our team.

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Early Warning Signs

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can have different symptoms for different people. Most don’t notice any signs at all.

The most common symptom is a lump in your breast or armpit. Others include skin changes, pain, a nipple that pulls inward, and unusual discharge from your nipple.

Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Common symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • A lump in your breast or underarm that doesn’t go away. This is often the first symptom of breast cancer. Your doctor can usually see a lump on a mammogram long before you can see or feel it.
  • Swelling in your armpit or near your collarbone. This could mean breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes in that area. Swelling may start before you feel a lump, so let your doctor know if you notice it.
  • Pain and tenderness, although lumps don’t usually hurt. Some may cause a prickly feeling.
  • A flat or indented area on your breast. This could happen because of a tumor that you can’t see or feel.
  • Breast changes such as a difference in the size, contour, texture, or temperature of your breast.
  • Changes in your nipple, like one that:
    • Pulls inward
    • Is dimpled
    • Burns
    • Itches
    • Develops sores
  • Unusual nipple discharge. It could be clear, bloody, or another color.
  • A marble-like area under your skin that feels different from any other part of either breast.

Breast Cancer Types and Symptoms

There are several kinds of breast cancer. Many of them share symptoms.

Symptoms of ductal carcinoma

This is the most common type of breast cancer. It begins in your ducts. About 1 in 5 new breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This means you have cancer in the cells that line your ducts, but it hasn’t spread into nearby tissue.

You may not notice any symptoms of ductal carcinoma. It can also cause a breast lump or bloody discharge.

Symptoms of lobular carcinoma

This kind begins in the glands that make milk, called lobules. It’s the second most common type of breast cancer. Symptoms include:

  • Fullness, thickening, or swelling in one area
  • Nipples that are flat or point inward (inverted)

Symptoms of invasive breast cancer

Breast cancer that’s spread from where it began into the tissues around it is called invasive or infiltrating. You may notice:

  • A lump in your breast or armpit. You might not be able to move it separately from your skin or move it at all.
  • One breast that looks different from the other
  • A rash or skin that’s thick, red, or dimpled like an orange
  • Skin sores
  • Swelling in your breast
  • Small, hard lymph nodes that may be stuck together or stuck to your skin
  • Pain in one spot

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer

Without treatment, breast cancer can spread to other parts of your body, including other organs. This is called metastatic, advanced, or secondary breast cancer. Depending on where it is, you may have:

Symptoms of triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancer is called triple-negative if it doesn’t have receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone and doesn’t make a lot of a protein called HER2. This kind tends to grow and spread faster than other types, and doctors treat it differently.

Triple-negative tumors make up 10% to 15% of breast cancers. They cause the same symptoms as other common types. Get an overview on triple-negative breast cancer symptoms and treatment.

Symptoms of male breast cancer

About 1% of breast cancers happen in men. Because it’s so rare, you may not pay attention to the symptoms until the cancer has grown. Watch for:

  • A lump or thick spot in your breast or armpit
  • Changes in the skin of your breast or nipple, such as redness, puckering, scales, or discharge

Learn more about breast cancer in men.

Symptoms of Paget’s disease of the breast

This type often happens along with ductal carcinoma. It affects the skin of your nipple and areola. Symptoms may look like eczema and include:

  • Nipple skin that’s crusted, scaly, and red
  • Bloody or yellow discharge from the nipple
  • A flat or inverted nipple
  • Burning or itching

Read more on the causes and symptoms of Paget’s disease.

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type that causes symptoms similar to an infection. They include:

  • A breast that’s warm, swollen, and red
  • Skin that’s dimpled, leathery, or ridged
  • A nipple that turns inward
  • Unusual nipple discharge

Symptoms of papillary carcinoma

This is a very rare type of ductal cancer. It’s named for the tiny lumps, or papules, on the tumor. Common symptoms include:

  • A small, hard cyst
  • Bloody discharge from the nipple

Symptoms of angiosarcoma

Fewer than 2% of breast cancers are angiosarcomas. These start in the cells that line your blood vessels or lymph nodes. Angiosarcoma may cause:

  • A lump in your breast
  • A purple area of skin that looks like a bruise
  • Skin that bleeds easily when scratched or bumped
  • Pain in one area

Breast Lumps

Breast lumps are common and usually aren’t cancer. Other conditions that can cause them include:

  • Fibroadenoma. This causes smooth, round lumps. You can move them, and they don’t hurt.
  • Fibrocystic changes. You may have cysts, pain, or tenderness.
  • Breast infections. Small sacs of pus (abscesses) often happen after childbirth.
  • Clogged milk glands
  • Injuries that form scar tissue

Talk to your doctor if you notice any kind of lump in your breast or armpit. Get medical care as soon as possible if you also have signs of an infection such as redness, swelling, or discharge. Find out more on causes and types of breast lumps.

Breast Cancer Recurrence

Breast cancer can come back, or recur, long after treatment. It may be in the same breast (local), in the lymph nodes near the original cancer (regional), or in a part of your body that’s farther away (metastatic or distant).

Cancer is most likely to come back in the first 2 years after treatment. After that period, the risk goes down over time.

Your doctor will talk with you about what to watch for. Local symptoms include:

  • A new lump in your breast
  • Changes in your breast, nipple, or skin
  • Lumps on the skin of your chest
  • Thickening on or near the scar from surgery to remove a breast (mastectomy)

Mastectomy and surgery to replace a breast (reconstruction) may lead to a buildup of scar tissue or fat cells. These lumps aren’t cancer. But it’s important to let your doctor know about them and watch for changes.

Symptoms of regional recurrence include:

  • A lump or swelling under your arm, above your collarbone, or on your chest
  • Swelling in your arm
  • Pain or numbness in your arm or shoulder
  • Constant pain in your chest
  • Trouble swallowing

Symptoms of metastatic recurrence depend on what body part is affected. The most common places are your bones, lungs, brain, and liver. You may have:

Know more about what to expect when breast cancer comes back.

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Early Warning Signs

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can have different symptoms for different people. Most don’t notice any signs at all.

The most common symptom is a lump in your breast or armpit. Others include skin changes, pain, a nipple that pulls inward, and unusual discharge from your nipple.

Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Common symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • A lump in your breast or underarm that doesn’t go away. This is often the first symptom of breast cancer. Your doctor can usually see a lump on a mammogram long before you can see or feel it.
  • Swelling in your armpit or near your collarbone. This could mean breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes in that area. Swelling may start before you feel a lump, so let your doctor know if you notice it.
  • Pain and tenderness, although lumps don’t usually hurt. Some may cause a prickly feeling.
  • A flat or indented area on your breast. This could happen because of a tumor that you can’t see or feel.
  • Breast changes such as a difference in the size, contour, texture, or temperature of your breast.
  • Changes in your nipple, like one that:
    • Pulls inward
    • Is dimpled
    • Burns
    • Itches
    • Develops sores
  • Unusual nipple discharge. It could be clear, bloody, or another color.
  • A marble-like area under your skin that feels different from any other part of either breast.

Breast Cancer Types and Symptoms

There are several kinds of breast cancer. Many of them share symptoms.

Symptoms of ductal carcinoma

This is the most common type of breast cancer. It begins in your ducts. About 1 in 5 new breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This means you have cancer in the cells that line your ducts, but it hasn’t spread into nearby tissue.

You may not notice any symptoms of ductal carcinoma. It can also cause a breast lump or bloody discharge.

Symptoms of lobular carcinoma

This kind begins in the glands that make milk, called lobules. It’s the second most common type of breast cancer. Symptoms include:

  • Fullness, thickening, or swelling in one area
  • Nipples that are flat or point inward (inverted)

Symptoms of invasive breast cancer

Breast cancer that’s spread from where it began into the tissues around it is called invasive or infiltrating. You may notice:

  • A lump in your breast or armpit. You might not be able to move it separately from your skin or move it at all.
  • One breast that looks different from the other
  • A rash or skin that’s thick, red, or dimpled like an orange
  • Skin sores
  • Swelling in your breast
  • Small, hard lymph nodes that may be stuck together or stuck to your skin
  • Pain in one spot

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer

Without treatment, breast cancer can spread to other parts of your body, including other organs. This is called metastatic, advanced, or secondary breast cancer. Depending on where it is, you may have:

Symptoms of triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancer is called triple-negative if it doesn’t have receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone and doesn’t make a lot of a protein called HER2. This kind tends to grow and spread faster than other types, and doctors treat it differently.

Triple-negative tumors make up 10% to 15% of breast cancers. They cause the same symptoms as other common types. Get an overview on triple-negative breast cancer symptoms and treatment.

Symptoms of male breast cancer

About 1% of breast cancers happen in men. Because it’s so rare, you may not pay attention to the symptoms until the cancer has grown. Watch for:

  • A lump or thick spot in your breast or armpit
  • Changes in the skin of your breast or nipple, such as redness, puckering, scales, or discharge

Learn more about breast cancer in men.

Symptoms of Paget’s disease of the breast

This type often happens along with ductal carcinoma. It affects the skin of your nipple and areola. Symptoms may look like eczema and include:

  • Nipple skin that’s crusted, scaly, and red
  • Bloody or yellow discharge from the nipple
  • A flat or inverted nipple
  • Burning or itching

Read more on the causes and symptoms of Paget’s disease.

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type that causes symptoms similar to an infection. They include:

  • A breast that’s warm, swollen, and red
  • Skin that’s dimpled, leathery, or ridged
  • A nipple that turns inward
  • Unusual nipple discharge

Symptoms of papillary carcinoma

This is a very rare type of ductal cancer. It’s named for the tiny lumps, or papules, on the tumor. Common symptoms include:

  • A small, hard cyst
  • Bloody discharge from the nipple

Symptoms of angiosarcoma

Fewer than 2% of breast cancers are angiosarcomas. These start in the cells that line your blood vessels or lymph nodes. Angiosarcoma may cause:

  • A lump in your breast
  • A purple area of skin that looks like a bruise
  • Skin that bleeds easily when scratched or bumped
  • Pain in one area

Breast Lumps

Breast lumps are common and usually aren’t cancer. Other conditions that can cause them include:

  • Fibroadenoma. This causes smooth, round lumps. You can move them, and they don’t hurt.
  • Fibrocystic changes. You may have cysts, pain, or tenderness.
  • Breast infections. Small sacs of pus (abscesses) often happen after childbirth.
  • Clogged milk glands
  • Injuries that form scar tissue

Talk to your doctor if you notice any kind of lump in your breast or armpit. Get medical care as soon as possible if you also have signs of an infection such as redness, swelling, or discharge. Find out more on causes and types of breast lumps.

Breast Cancer Recurrence

Breast cancer can come back, or recur, long after treatment. It may be in the same breast (local), in the lymph nodes near the original cancer (regional), or in a part of your body that’s farther away (metastatic or distant).

Cancer is most likely to come back in the first 2 years after treatment. After that period, the risk goes down over time.

Your doctor will talk with you about what to watch for. Local symptoms include:

  • A new lump in your breast
  • Changes in your breast, nipple, or skin
  • Lumps on the skin of your chest
  • Thickening on or near the scar from surgery to remove a breast (mastectomy)

Mastectomy and surgery to replace a breast (reconstruction) may lead to a buildup of scar tissue or fat cells. These lumps aren’t cancer. But it’s important to let your doctor know about them and watch for changes.

Symptoms of regional recurrence include:

  • A lump or swelling under your arm, above your collarbone, or on your chest
  • Swelling in your arm
  • Pain or numbness in your arm or shoulder
  • Constant pain in your chest
  • Trouble swallowing

Symptoms of metastatic recurrence depend on what body part is affected. The most common places are your bones, lungs, brain, and liver. You may have:

Know more about what to expect when breast cancer comes back.

Breast Cancer Symptoms and Early Warning Signs

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can have different symptoms for different people. Most don’t notice any signs at all.

The most common symptom is a lump in your breast or armpit. Others include skin changes, pain, a nipple that pulls inward, and unusual discharge from your nipple.

Early Warning Signs of Breast Cancer

Common symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • A lump in your breast or underarm that doesn’t go away. This is often the first symptom of breast cancer. Your doctor can usually see a lump on a mammogram long before you can see or feel it.
  • Swelling in your armpit or near your collarbone. This could mean breast cancer has spread to lymph nodes in that area. Swelling may start before you feel a lump, so let your doctor know if you notice it.
  • Pain and tenderness, although lumps don’t usually hurt. Some may cause a prickly feeling.
  • A flat or indented area on your breast. This could happen because of a tumor that you can’t see or feel.
  • Breast changes such as a difference in the size, contour, texture, or temperature of your breast.
  • Changes in your nipple, like one that:
    • Pulls inward
    • Is dimpled
    • Burns
    • Itches
    • Develops sores
  • Unusual nipple discharge. It could be clear, bloody, or another color.
  • A marble-like area under your skin that feels different from any other part of either breast.

Breast Cancer Types and Symptoms

There are several kinds of breast cancer. Many of them share symptoms.

Symptoms of ductal carcinoma

This is the most common type of breast cancer. It begins in your ducts. About 1 in 5 new breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This means you have cancer in the cells that line your ducts, but it hasn’t spread into nearby tissue.

You may not notice any symptoms of ductal carcinoma. It can also cause a breast lump or bloody discharge.

Symptoms of lobular carcinoma

This kind begins in the glands that make milk, called lobules. It’s the second most common type of breast cancer. Symptoms include:

  • Fullness, thickening, or swelling in one area
  • Nipples that are flat or point inward (inverted)

Symptoms of invasive breast cancer

Breast cancer that’s spread from where it began into the tissues around it is called invasive or infiltrating. You may notice:

  • A lump in your breast or armpit. You might not be able to move it separately from your skin or move it at all.
  • One breast that looks different from the other
  • A rash or skin that’s thick, red, or dimpled like an orange
  • Skin sores
  • Swelling in your breast
  • Small, hard lymph nodes that may be stuck together or stuck to your skin
  • Pain in one spot

Symptoms of metastatic breast cancer

Without treatment, breast cancer can spread to other parts of your body, including other organs. This is called metastatic, advanced, or secondary breast cancer. Depending on where it is, you may have:

Symptoms of triple-negative breast cancer

Breast cancer is called triple-negative if it doesn’t have receptors for the hormones estrogen and progesterone and doesn’t make a lot of a protein called HER2. This kind tends to grow and spread faster than other types, and doctors treat it differently.

Triple-negative tumors make up 10% to 15% of breast cancers. They cause the same symptoms as other common types. Get an overview on triple-negative breast cancer symptoms and treatment.

Symptoms of male breast cancer

About 1% of breast cancers happen in men. Because it’s so rare, you may not pay attention to the symptoms until the cancer has grown. Watch for:

  • A lump or thick spot in your breast or armpit
  • Changes in the skin of your breast or nipple, such as redness, puckering, scales, or discharge

Learn more about breast cancer in men.

Symptoms of Paget’s disease of the breast

This type often happens along with ductal carcinoma. It affects the skin of your nipple and areola. Symptoms may look like eczema and include:

  • Nipple skin that’s crusted, scaly, and red
  • Bloody or yellow discharge from the nipple
  • A flat or inverted nipple
  • Burning or itching

Read more on the causes and symptoms of Paget’s disease.

Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type that causes symptoms similar to an infection. They include:

  • A breast that’s warm, swollen, and red
  • Skin that’s dimpled, leathery, or ridged
  • A nipple that turns inward
  • Unusual nipple discharge

Symptoms of papillary carcinoma

This is a very rare type of ductal cancer. It’s named for the tiny lumps, or papules, on the tumor. Common symptoms include:

  • A small, hard cyst
  • Bloody discharge from the nipple

Symptoms of angiosarcoma

Fewer than 2% of breast cancers are angiosarcomas. These start in the cells that line your blood vessels or lymph nodes. Angiosarcoma may cause:

  • A lump in your breast
  • A purple area of skin that looks like a bruise
  • Skin that bleeds easily when scratched or bumped
  • Pain in one area

Breast Lumps

Breast lumps are common and usually aren’t cancer. Other conditions that can cause them include:

  • Fibroadenoma. This causes smooth, round lumps. You can move them, and they don’t hurt.
  • Fibrocystic changes. You may have cysts, pain, or tenderness.
  • Breast infections. Small sacs of pus (abscesses) often happen after childbirth.
  • Clogged milk glands
  • Injuries that form scar tissue

Talk to your doctor if you notice any kind of lump in your breast or armpit. Get medical care as soon as possible if you also have signs of an infection such as redness, swelling, or discharge. Find out more on causes and types of breast lumps.

Breast Cancer Recurrence

Breast cancer can come back, or recur, long after treatment. It may be in the same breast (local), in the lymph nodes near the original cancer (regional), or in a part of your body that’s farther away (metastatic or distant).

Cancer is most likely to come back in the first 2 years after treatment. After that period, the risk goes down over time.

Your doctor will talk with you about what to watch for. Local symptoms include:

  • A new lump in your breast
  • Changes in your breast, nipple, or skin
  • Lumps on the skin of your chest
  • Thickening on or near the scar from surgery to remove a breast (mastectomy)

Mastectomy and surgery to replace a breast (reconstruction) may lead to a buildup of scar tissue or fat cells. These lumps aren’t cancer. But it’s important to let your doctor know about them and watch for changes.

Symptoms of regional recurrence include:

  • A lump or swelling under your arm, above your collarbone, or on your chest
  • Swelling in your arm
  • Pain or numbness in your arm or shoulder
  • Constant pain in your chest
  • Trouble swallowing

Symptoms of metastatic recurrence depend on what body part is affected. The most common places are your bones, lungs, brain, and liver. You may have:

Know more about what to expect when breast cancer comes back.

Breast lump and armpit lump- terrified! Please help!

Thank you @Jolamine ‍ for all your support – you are one of the angels on here who, despite going through treatment and so much worry yourselves, have given up so much of your time to helping others – if there’s one positive to come from this experience, it’s realising how many amazing women there are out there who are kicking cancer’s backsides! I’m making a donation to CRUK on pay day – in your name and the name of the two CRUK nurses on here who also helped answer my (rather erratic!) questions. Wishing you all the happines for the future – and please know what a difference your kind words in people’s darkest hours make. 

I had my appointment at the Breast Cancer Care unit today – after all that worry it turned out to be just a simple cyst underneath glandular breast tissue which made it feel hard and fixed to the breast wall. The nurse did a physical examination and then an ultrasound – I couldn’t bare to look at the screen for ages but there it was, clear as day, a black circle (about 5mm). So strange as it definitely felt long and oval (my GP noted it down as 2cms), and not like any descriptions I had read online. It wasn’t soft, round or what I would have described as moveable – although the nurse said she thought it was moveable in her terms. 

She said I didn’t need anything else and sent me off home. I’m pretty sure, now I’ve looked into cysts (I had ruled them out a couple of weeks ago) it was caused by going on a higher oestrogen pill for 3 months. 

For anyone who has found a similar lump and is desperately trying to get info, mine is in my upper inner quadrant of my right breast. It doesn’t roll around under the skin (at least how I would describe that) and it feels quite large and firm – and oval shaped, like a firm ridge. My right breast has always been bigger than my left but I could have sworn the difference had got bigger too. And after finding the lump, I discovered my lymph node under my right armpit was bigger than my left. But it was just a small cyst in the end, and a whole lot of panic and Googling. And my lymph nodes were normal – she struggled to even find them for a while.

Wishing anyone else going through this lots of luck and sending calm, positive thoughts your way xxx

I Found a Lump Under My Armpit, What Now?

If you’ve found a lump under your armpit, it is important to contact your doctor. While it could potentially indicate cancer is present, it is far more likely to be a benign condition like an infection, allergy, or a cyst.

An Armpit Lump is Rarely Cancerous

A lump under the armpit may be related to swelling of the lymph nodes. In the body, lymph nodes act like filters that catch things your body doesn’t want—like germs. Swelling in the lymph node area may indicate that your body has identified an infection and is trying to fight it. Finding a lump under the armpit is common for some bacterial and viral infections. In that case, a round of antibiotics is usually all that is needed to treat the lump.

Accurate Diagnosis is Important

Although a lump in your armpit isn’t likely to be a sign of breast cancer, it is very important to have it checked out and get all tests that are recommended by your doctor. The lump could be a tumor, because breast tissue can actually extend all the way out to the armpit. Or the lump could also be due to swollen lymph nodes that are attempting to filter out cancer cells.

Meeting with Your Doctor

Your doctor will conduct an exam and ask you questions about your symptoms. Before you visit your doctor, write down what you notice about the lump and any other symptoms you may be having, even if they seem unrelated. Your doctor may ask you some of these questions:

  • When did you first notice the lump under your armpit?
  • Has it changed in any way? (bigger, smaller)
  • Is it painful?
  • Is there anything that makes it worse?
  • Have you had a vaccine recently? (Some lumps may be the result of an adverse reaction to a vaccine.)

Additional Imaging Tests

Your doctor may recommend an imaging study, such as a mammogram or ultrasound, if more information is necessary to make a diagnosis. At The Breast Center of Maple Grove, diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds are offered in a relaxing and comfortable environment, and results are provided on the same day.

If you found a lump under your armpit, contact your doctor first. If additional imaging is necessary to make a diagnosis, contact the compassionate physicians and technologists at The Breast Center of Maple Grove to schedule your exam.

90,000 Armpit pain

The pain in the armpit can be aching, pulling, cutting.

Often it occurs spontaneously and also suddenly subsides, and sometimes it makes itself felt only during physical exertion, coughing.

Perhaps a chronic course, accompanied by periodic relapses.

The nature of the manifestation of this symptom directly depends on the causes that provoked it.

Reasons

The causes of armpit pain can be:

  1. mechanical injuries;
  2. cysts and other neoplasms;
  3. allergic reactions;
  4. inflammation of the lymph nodes and glands;
  5. purulent skin lesions.

Some diseases of the mammary glands have similar symptoms, in which soreness in the chest radiates to the armpit.

Diagnostics

The most effective ways to diagnose the causes of armpit pain are:

Ultrasound examination of mammary glands

It belongs to non-invasive diagnostic methods, has a high information content and is characterized by ease of implementation, allows you to assess the state of internal organs using ultrasound waves and identify mastopathy, mastitis and other pathologies at an early stage.

Consultation and Procedures

  • Consultation of an oncologist-mammologist, MD (Tailor S.M.)

    5 000 ₽

  • Consultation of an oncologist-mammologist, Ph.D. (Karpov A.V.)

    2 500 ₽

  • Ultrasound of mammary glands

    3 000 ₽

  • Repeated ultrasound of the mammary glands (within 3 months.)

    2 000 ₽

  • Puncture of palpable formation of the mammary gland (1 formation)

    1 500 ₽

  • Marking of non-palpable breast masses under ultrasound control before surgery

    10,000 ₽

  • Installation of an anchor needle under ultrasound control

    14,000 ₽

  • CORE-biopsy * of breast formation under ultrasound control

    15 000 ₽

  • * Sampling analysis from one point (in addition to the cost of analysis)

    7 200 ₽

  • Puncture of breast neoplasms non-palpable targeted puncture under ultrasound control

    4 500 ₽

  • Ultrasound of soft tissues

    2 500 ₽

Mammography

It is an X-ray examination, thanks to which it is possible to obtain an image of the mammary glands in two projections at once – craniocaudal and lateral; it is carried out if neoplasms are suspected that cannot be palpated. Not performed in our clinic.

Breast puncture

An invasive method of obtaining cells for further cytological and histological examination. The biomaterial is taken from pathological neoplasms, it helps to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

  • Oncomammology
  • Mastopathy
  • Cystic pathologies
  • Seals, units
  • Pain 90 120
Optional

Lump in the armpit: is it worth sounding the alarm

Formations in the armpit are often troublesome for women – the worst comes to mind.Oncologist-mammologist Nadezhda Ivanovna Rozhkova said on the air of the Russia 1 channel that this is an infrequent phenomenon, but with regular self-examination, women sometimes find seals. What are the reasons for this phenomenon and is it worth sounding the alarm?

Hydradenitis , among the people, the bough udder, as a rule, manifests itself in the summer. It can be provoked, for example, by too frequent use of deodorant, uncomfortable tight clothing. Inflammation of the sweat glands can be accompanied by fever and chills.Practice good personal hygiene and this problem will bypass you.

Inflammation of the lymph node gives pain, may be redness, fever. Here it is necessary to do an ultrasound, the cause of the disease can be any (allergy, furunculosis), including the one that we are afraid of.

Tuberculosis – although rare, it is also the cause of the appearance of seals in the armpit.

Breast cancer gives no pain or redness – only induration.In this case, the woman should sound the alarm and do an ultrasound scan. Ideally, immediately after your period ends. At risk are women over 40, overweight women with poor heredity. Taking oral contraceptives and giving birth after 30-40 years are also risk factors. But nulliparous and breastfeeding women are also at risk. An important point is injuries and bruises, they aggravate problems with the mammary gland. The psycho-emotional mood also affects the condition of the chest and lymph nodes. Chronic and acute stressful situations radically change the hormonal balance.Be calm, learn to relieve stress, live with pleasure, and everything will be fine!

90,000 Does your chest hurt? The main thing is calmness!

About the symptoms

– Olga Ivanovna, what diseases are characteristic of the breast?

– The most common disease is mastopathy – diffuse and nodular, which occurs in women aged 30-50 years, fibroadenoma. There are intraductal papillomas, which are an indication for surgical treatment, as they degenerate into cancer.In addition, mastitis is a common disease. It happens not only in nursing women, it can appear from drafts, hypothermia. Breast diseases include mastitis-like cancer. And the last, most unfavorable disease is breast cancer.

– How do diseases manifest themselves?

– With benign mastopathy, the main complaint is pain, it is she who brings a woman to see a doctor. But with cancer, the mammary gland does not hurt.It is necessary to pay attention to a change in skin color in a limited area of ​​the breast – redness or cyanosis, asymmetry, a change in the size of one of the glands that occurred in a short period of time – 2-3 months. Signs of the disease are the deformation of the gland, the presence of bulging or retraction in a limited area, a change in the shape of the areola, retraction or deviation of the nipple, its ulceration, the appearance in the gland of a small nodule, dense to the touch, often painless, with a tuberous surface and a gradual transition into the surrounding tissue of the gland , lemon peel induration, bloody nipple discharge.

– Who is at risk?

– First of all, those whose female relatives had breast cancer – mother, grandmother, aunt, sisters. The risk group also includes women diagnosed with mastopathy, nulliparous, late giving birth for the first time. Obese women, who have hypertension and diabetes mellitus – in this group of patients, according to statistics, cancer occurs three times more often. Women with reduced thyroid function, as well as those who like fatty foods, consume alcohol.In this case, the degeneration of liver cells also affects the condition of the mammary glands.

– At what age is it necessary to diagnose girls?

– From school age, it is already necessary to teach a girl to conduct self-examination and take care of the health of the mammary glands. From the age of 30, a woman needs to have an ultrasound of the mammary glands, and from 30-35, a mammogram should be performed once every two years. Detecting and curing a disease in time means avoiding problems in the future.

Pain is unacceptable!

– Before critical days, women often notice breast tenderness.Where is the line that indicates pathology?

– The chest should not be painful under any circumstances. A slight increase is acceptable, but pain and swelling are not. If the pain intensifies over time, gives it to the armpit, under the scapula, you should be alert and consult a doctor.

– How to conduct self-examination?

– It can be carried out in the bathroom when the chest is soaped up, the hand glides well and you can palpate formations up to 0.5 millimeters on your own.But, unfortunately, 30 percent of tumors are located inside the gland, and they cannot be detected on their own. This can only be done by a doctor. In addition, you can conduct the examination in front of a mirror, with your hands up. It is necessary to examine the breasts for the signs that we have listed above. By the way, it would be nice if the mammary glands were examined by a loved one! Women may feel sorry for themselves and not diagnose properly.

How to sunbathe

– Now is the vacation time, how to protect your breasts from sun exposure?

– You need to sunbathe in the morning or after lunch, always in a dry swimsuit.Firstly, so as not to overcool the chest, and secondly, remember that ultraviolet rays are better attracted to a wet swimsuit. As a doctor, I must warn you: before you tan topless, visit a mammologist and get his permission.

– Can trauma cause breast disease?

– Can. Even minimal trauma can trigger subsequent cancer. Any bumps, falls, accidental shocks – all this can cause diseases in the future.

– Does it matter what kind of bra a woman wears?

– Yes. Often, in order to visually enlarge her breasts, a woman buys a bra one size smaller. This leads to the fact that the small bra tightens the ligaments of the breast and this will lead to sagging, impaired circulation and blood stagnation. Linen should not interfere with breathing, squeeze blood vessels. Women with large breasts should wear a bra with wide straps. The chest should lie in the cup, and the belt should not hinder movement and breathing.When trying on, make sure the front and back of your bra are flush. If the bra is fitted correctly, it should not lift when you raise your arms. Carefully choose a bra for sports. Otherwise, after some time, there will be a struggle with stretch marks.

To feed or not?

– Some women refuse to breastfeed their baby, believing that the appearance of their breasts will deteriorate.

– This is not the case. Recent studies, for example, by American scientists have shown that feeding is not the cause of sagging breasts.In addition, it helps to avoid cracking of the nipples, engorgement of the nipple tissue, blockages of the ducts, mastitis, and infectious diseases of the mammary glands.

– What foods can support breast health?

– Include in the menu foods high in vitamins A, E and C: carrots, spinach, apricots, citrus fruits, and cabbage – it is very useful for the skin of the mammary glands, but contrary to common prejudices, it does not affect its volume in any way. Brewer’s yeast with a high thiamine content provides firmness to the breast skin.The antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables and green tea prevent the formation of cancer cells. As for physical exercises, they do not change the size of the mammary glands, but they “lift” the breast, due to which it seems more voluminous.

Pay attention to yourself, keep a health calendar, mark when you were at the mammologist’s, when the last time you had an ultrasound or mammogram. God saves man, who save himself! Don’t be afraid to go to the doctor. It happens that a woman finds a bundle in her and sits at home, afraid.But don’t do that. Breast cancer is now being cured at an early stage. Well, we, doctors, will always help.

Causes of breast diseases

– hormonal imbalance in the body

– diseases of the thyroid gland, ovaries, etc.

– abortion

– late first birth

– mastopathy

– breast trauma, 9000os3

– stress situations

– obesity, diabetes, liver disease.

– alcohol, smoking

– heredity

Breast cancer: symptoms and diagnosis

A lecture on “Breast cancer” was held at the outpatient clinic No. 99.It was conducted by the head of the 1st therapeutic department O. Semina.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women all over the world, including in Russia.

Often, at the very beginning of the disease, signs of breast cancer are absent or too insignificant for a woman to pay attention to them. Therefore, the appearance of the first pronounced symptoms may already indicate the active development of the disease. The main thing when they are found is not to postpone a visit to a mammologist or oncologist.

Signs of breast cancer

The severity of signs of breast cancer largely depends on the form of the disease. Distinguish between non-invasive form, that is, without tumor growth into the surrounding tissue (carcinoma) and invasive. Carcinoma is usually easier to treat, since the tumor does not affect the surrounding organs and tissues, but is located in the lobules or ducts of the breast. Invasive forms are characteristic of more advanced stages of cancer and are more difficult to treat, as they invade adjacent tissues.Also, the signs depend on the stage of breast cancer, the prevalence of metastases. Conventionally, signs of breast cancer can be divided into external and internal.

External signs

In case of cancer, the shape, size, shape of the breast may change, the nipple may acquire a retracted shape. Redness of the skin is possible, it can acquire a wrinkled appearance, the effect of “orange peel” appears. Peeling and burning of the skin is sometimes observed.

The external manifestations of cancer can also include soreness and discomfort in the chest area, an increase in axillary lymphatic catch, the appearance of swelling in the armpit and shoulder.

These signs can be manifestations of other breast diseases or allergies, a reliable diagnosis can only be made by a mammologist after a thorough examination of the patient.

Internal attributes

One of the first manifestations of the disease is the presence of a seal in the mammary gland.In the initial stages, it is usually small and does not cause painful sensations. Over time, this lump begins to grow in size, when feeling it, a woman may feel pain.

Most often, the presence of a formation in the breast indicates mastopathy, but for an accurate diagnosis and treatment prescription, it is imperative to visit a doctor. The mammologist will conduct a visual examination and palpation of the breast, and, if necessary, will prescribe an additional examination. For early diagnosis, ultrasound of the mammary glands, mammography (fluoroscopy of the glands), histological examination of cells obtained from the formation by biopsy are used.

Particular attention should be paid to breast health by women at risk. Predisposing factors are heredity, smoking, excess weight. Women with early-onset menstruation or, conversely, with late (after 55 years of age) menopause are more likely to suffer from breast cancer.

For the timely detection of the disease, every woman should conduct a monthly self-examination of the mammary glands. It is best to do this right after your next period. Menopausal women should be screened on the same day of every month.

Recommendations for breast self-examination

You can start the examination while lying on your back. To do this, you need to put a small pillow under one shoulder blade, put your hand on this side under your head, conduct an examination with the other hand. The mammary gland must be gently felt with smooth circular movements, checking for seals. Then the same is repeated with the second breast.

The second stage of self-examination is carried out in front of the mirror.A woman should carefully examine her breasts – has the color of the skin changed, are there pits, wrinkles, bulging veins on the breasts? Has the shape of the mammary glands changed? Is there a discharge when pressing on the nipple? When examining, the hands must first be spread apart, then raised above the head, tilted slightly forward.

90,000 “I’m scared, everything hurts”: a 33-year-old Ufa woman struggles with a serious illness for the second time and asks for help – # CAN HELP – Special Projects

Text: Alexandra Kovalev, photo from Regina's family archive

Regina Bashkirtseva from Ufa is only 33 years old, she has a wonderful family, two wonderful daughters – 3 and 10 years old.Together with loved ones, they always shared joyful moments and overcame adversity. Now they have yet another test – their mother is ill.

The beginning of my war

Regina faced cancer for the second time. In the first, everything happened about three years ago – in the summer of 2017, when the girl was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, her youngest daughter was a little over a year old.
It all started with a small lump in the armpit, the puncture showed that it was a benign tumor, and Regina was sent home with the words that she needed to forget, live and be happy.

“I forgot, lived and rejoiced for three or four months, and then my tumor doubled. I came to the surgeon, thought that I needed to remove it, suddenly the pus would go somewhere. The surgeon looked and said that it was far from pus, but it looked like oncology and sent it to the oncologist. There they took a puncture from the lymph node, the result came that I had a low-grade ademocarcioma, and there was already a metastasis in the armpit, the main tumor was in the chest, ”the girl said.

As part of the treatment, she underwent 8 courses of chemotherapy, targeted therapy. Regina’s breast was removed along with all her lymph nodes.The doctors said that the cancer had receded, there was no limit to happiness, then it seemed that the trouble would never return.

Scary

After the good news, Regina was in remission for a year and a half. She had planned examinations every three months, and then her lymph nodes enlarged again, the doctors discovered that they were metastases. Cancer is back again.

“At that moment I felt like an absolutely healthy person, and did not even suspect that something could come back to me.I’m scared. Everything hurts from stress. Tachycardia from red chemistry remained from those times. The second time, to be honest, it is harder to hear and bear all this than the first. My daughters are also scared for me, my husband, family, friends, colleagues, classmates, fellow students are worried. Thank them very much, ”Regina told about her feelings.

Now she is being offered the same treatment in Ufa that she underwent before, but the girl has a conclusion on her hands, which showed that that treatment was ineffective.

“It didn’t destroy the tumor, it’s in excellent condition, that is, it didn’t even stagger. Therefore, my family and I made a decision that there are never many chances for life, and we must fight: undergo examination and start treatment. We sent documents to all clinics, including in Russia. There are chances for life, but I urgently need your help, ”she said.

Now Regina received a response from the Israeli clinic Horev Medical center. The examination requires $ 8,000, for treatment from $ 20.000 $. All documents are at the disposal of the editorial office and checked.

If you want to help, you can send any amount you can, every ruble is important.

Sberbank card 4276 8060 5425 1060 in the name of Bashkirtseva Regina Rashitovna.
Sberbank card 4276 0600 6702 0787 in the name of the husband of Bashkirtsev N.N.
VTB card 4893 4702 4558 2769 addressed to the husband of N.N. Bashkirtsev

Project “I can help” is aimed at helping people in need of Bashkiria.If you know that someone needs support, or you yourself find yourself in a difficult situation, tell us about it, and the information will surely reach the one who says: I am # CAN HELP

We are waiting for your responses to [email protected]

90,000 Diseases of the mammary glands: cyst, mastopathy, fibroadenoma of the young glands

There are a number of factors contributing to the occurrence of a cyst:

  • changes in hormonal levels and taking hormonal drugs;
  • decreased immunity;
  • gynecological diseases;
  • diseases of the endocrine system;
  • psychoemotional stress, neuroinfection;
  • chest injuries;
  • surgical intervention.

The cyst may not appear in any way for a long time, however, when the neoplasms reach a significant size, it can manifest the following symptoms: , neck, armpits;

  • A burning sensation at the site of the cyst
  • There is visually redness, swelling or asymmetry of the mammary glands.
  • Types of breast cysts:

    Atypical is a benign neoplasm in which growth occurs inside the cavity. When diagnosing, a puncture of an atypical cyst of the mammary gland is necessarily performed, which allows you to monitor the structure of cells and timely identify the onset of malignancy (transition to a malignant process).

    Fibrous – develops in the menopause and is associated with a change in hormonal levels.Refers to background diseases in breast cancer.

    Solitary – occurs in the ducts of the mammary glands, the cause of the appearance is hormonal imbalance.

    Ductal – characterized by the presence of seals and discharge of whitish or bloody fluid from the nipples. Refers to a precancerous condition.

    Multicam – the most dangerous type of neoplasm, in most cases it transforms into a malignant tumor.

    How to diagnose breast cysts

    Breast cyst treatment

    Breast cyst treatment is possible in two ways.Drug therapy is indicated for neoplasms up to 1 cm in size. In the absence of the effect of conservative treatment, the neoplasm is surgically removed in several possible ways:

    • puncture – the contents of the cyst are removed with a thin needle under the control of an ultrasound machine.
    • lumpectomy – removal of a cyst while preserving breast tissue under general anesthesia.
    • resection – removal of multiple cysts and neoplasms that are deep in the tissues or ducts, along with part of the breast tissue.The operation allows you to remove the neoplasm while preserving the organ.

    Mastopathy

    Mastopathy is a tissue pathology resulting from a change in the ratio of epithelial and connective tissue in the structure of the mammary gland. Such changes, in turn, lead to the appearance of cystic and fibrous neoplasms. Mastopathy is common in women of reproductive age and is most often associated with hormonal disorders. By types, it is divided into diffuse, fibrocystic and nodular.

    Risk factors that can trigger the onset of mastopathy:

    • heredity;
    • Diseases caused by disruption of the endocrine system – diabetes, obesity, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome;
    • inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system
    • chronic liver diseases;
    • psycho-emotional overload and stress;
    • reproductive factors: late pregnancy, absence of pregnancy, a large number of abortions, early menarche, late menopause;
    • Lack of sex life, late onset of sexual activity (after 30 years), decreased sex drive.

    Signs and symptoms of mastopathy:

    • pain in the mammary glands;
    • a feeling of heaviness and distention in the mammary glands;
    • The appearance of hardened dense neoplasms-nodes;
    • cracks in the nipples or changes in their skin, discharge from the nipples;
    • enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes.

    How to diagnose mastopathy

    Mastopathies appear already during a visual examination by a mammologist and are confirmed by mammography in two projections or during an ultrasound of the mammary glands.Additional diagnostic procedures can be prescribed: pneumocystography, tissue biopsy with cytological examination, hormone analysis. Early diagnosis of mastopathy is important, since it is also the prevention of breast cancer.

    Treatment of mastopathy

    As in the case of treatment of cysts, mastopathy has a medical or surgical method of treatment. Drug therapy is primarily aimed at correcting endocrine problems. Patients are prescribed hormonal drugs to eliminate hormonal imbalance, as well as non-hormonal therapy – diet, vitamins, immunomodulators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sedatives.Surgical treatment – lumpectomy (minimally invasive removal of breast neoplasms) or breast resection.

    Breast fibroadenoma

    Breast fibroadenoma refers to benign neoplasms and arises from the replacement of glandular epithelial connective tissue.

    The cause of fibroadenoma is hormonal imbalance – an increase in estrogen levels with a simultaneous decrease in progesterone levels.The greatest risk of fibroadenoma formation occurs when hormonal changes in the female body – puberty, pregnancy, lactation, frequent abortions, menopause. Other causes that can cause fibroadenoma:

    • inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system;
    • uncontrolled intake of hormonal contraceptives;
    • breast trauma;
    • diseases of the thyroid gland and liver.

    According to morphological characteristics, fibroadenomas are divided into four main types:

    Perianalicular – proliferation of fibrous and connective tissues around the milk ducts;

    Intracanalicular – connective tissue grows in the ducts of the mammary gland with a snug fit to the walls;

    Mixed – combines the features of the two previous types, grows around the ducts and inside them;

    Leaf-like (phyloid) – fibroepithelial neoplasms in the form of several knots intertwined with each other.This type of fibroadenoma is characterized by the rapid growth of the neoplasm and a high degree of malignancy (transition to a malignant process).

    Diagnosis of fibroadenoma

    Most often, fibroadenoma can be detected during an independent examination or during a scheduled visit to a mammologist. Small fibroadenomas are painless and do not cause discomfort. The presence of pain, a change in the color of the epithelium, deformation of the mammary gland, discharge from the nipples indicate the development of leaf-shaped fibroadenoma or some other neoplasm.

    To confirm the diagnosis of breast fibroadenoma, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a mammologist with mandatory mammography or ultrasound examination. An additional diagnostic examination of the fibroadenoma itself is an ultrasound-guided biopsy.

    How is breast fibroadenoma treated

    Drug treatment of fibroadenoma is aimed at correcting hormonal levels, surgical treatment is carried out in two ways:

    • enucleation – removal of a benign neoplasm without removing healthy tissue around the tumor;
    • sectoral resection (lumpectomy) – removal of the tumor itself and part of the surrounding healthy tissue.90 016 90 105 90 000 Metastases – Treatment and diagnosis in Kiev – Symptoms

      Cancer cells metastasize hematogenously – through the blood

      Metastases (from the Greek metastasis, movement) is the spread of tumor cells from the site of origin (primary tumor) to other parts and organs of the patient’s body. There are two main ways of spreading metastases: along the vessels of the lymphatic system ( lymphogenous metastasis) and along the vessels of the circulatory system ( hematogenous metastasis).

      Metastases are nothing more than cancer cells that have detached from the primary tumor and have begun their “journey” through the vessels. Usually, tumors metastasize at a later stage, so it is extremely important to determine whether the identified tumor is primary , or if the body should be carefully examined in search of the source of metastasis.

      Treatment of metastases

      Cancer metastases, like the disease itself, require treatment. For this, the following methods are used:

      The method of treatment of metastases, based on the characteristics of each disease, is determined by a council of specialists.

      Among the methods of treatment of metastases, CyberKnife deserves special attention. This method of bloodless remote radiosurgery is recognized as the “gold standard” of treatment and is used in most cases of the prevalence of the oncological process:

      “Treatment of cancer metastases on CyberKnife is a non-invasive, non-toxic and safe effect on the body, which enables the patient’s body to recover and gain strength before the next stage of treatment of the tumor process”, – Irina Dionisieva, a radiologist of the highest category, more than 25 years in medicine.

      CyberKnife does not provide for surgical intervention, as in traditional surgical treatment of metastases. The radiosurgical system delivers high doses of ionizing radiation exactly to the volume of tumor cells, allowing for one or two sessions to remove not only single but also multiple neoplasms.

      Mechanisms of malignant growth

      The development of cancer begins at the moment when a cell with damaged genes is reproduced. Subsequently, cancer cells undergo uncontrolled division ( abnormal mitosis ), which leads to a rapid increase in cell clumping, which can be detected during patient examination during preventive cancer screening .The collection of cancer cells at the site of the onset of the tumor process is the primary tumor . Further growth of the tumor can lead to its growth into the surrounding tissues and organs. Such sprouting is usually called local metastases .

      With the continuation of the tumor process, detachment of individual cells is observed with their further spread through the bloodstream and lymph flow, due to which, under certain conditions (reduced general or local immunity), the development of metastatic tumors occurs.In patients with good body resistance, the introduction of tumor cells into other organs does not lead to the development of metastatic lesions.

      Methods of biochemical and cytogenetic studies help to identify undifferentiated cells when a tumor is suspected.

      Movement of metastases

      Tumor cells enter the vessels of the lymphatic and / or circulatory systems after the integrity of the vessels in their place of contact with the tumor is disturbed.

      Mechanisms of tumor metastasis

      If a tumor cell circulating in the blood or lymph manages to attach itself to the vessel wall or to the organ through which the vessel passes, it penetrates beyond its “transport corridor” and continues uncontrolled reproduction.

      Thus, another tumor is formed ( secondary , or metastatic ), which can be detected during clinical diagnosis. When examined in detail, the cell type of this new tumor ( metastasis ) matches the cell type of the primary tumor .Thus, metastatic cells in structure and metabolism, in most cases, correspond to the cells of the primary tumor. In some cases, this helps to make cancer treatment more effective – the identification of a tumor type that is nonspecific for a given localization serves as a signal for further search for the primary tumor focus.

      For example, breast cancer most often spreads to the lungs. Therefore, if a tumor is found in the lungs consisting of abnormal breast cells, the oncologist must take action to detect the primary tumor.

      Metastasis is the main (but not the only) sign of tumor malignancy. However, the ability to metastasize in different types of cancer is different. For example, of two skin tumors, melanoma is an extremely aggressive metastasis, and cases of metastasis of basal cell carcinoma (basal cell carcinoma of the skin) are extremely rare.

      Relapses and metastases of a malignant tumor are a serious complication, more dangerous for the patient’s life than the primary tumor. Early detection of these complications and specialized treatment are the main directions of the struggle for the life expectancy of cancer patients.

      Features of recurrence and metastasis of tumors

      Various clinical observations and results of statistical studies have shown that the following factors affect the frequency and characteristics of the occurrence of relapses and metastases, which determine the prognosis of the disease:

      • Tumor stage at the start of specialized treatment

      Theoretically, in patients who received radical treatment (surgery or radiosurgery) at the first stage of the disease, tumor cells did not penetrate beyond the tumor into the vessels of the lymphatic or circulatory system.This means there is no reason to expect metastases or tumor recurrence.

      Skin metastases, primary tumor – gastric adenocarcinoma

      However, there is no precise information about whether single cells entered the bloodstream / lymph flow, whether the tumor was completely excised, whether a radiosurgical dose of ionizing radiation from CyberKnife or Gamma Knife was delivered to the full volume of the tumor lesion.

      Therefore, patients who received treatment at the first stage of cancer are subject to mandatory examinations.

      • Tumor location

      Modern methods of treatment make it possible to achieve the effectiveness of treatment, for example (except for melanoma), in 70-80%. The same indicator in patients at the first stage of non-melanoma skin cancers reaches 100%. In this case, the location (localization) of the primary tumor affects only the frequency of metastasis, but also those “targets” to which it “sends” metastases.

      Examples of metastasis:

      • cancer of the anal rectum – in the inguinal lymph nodes;

      • tumors of the mid- and upper ampullar parts of the intestine – up the mesentery and into the lymph nodes of the pelvic tissue;

      • prostate cancer – to the skeletal system (pelvis, sacrum, spine).

      Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of each of the organs, even the placement of a tumor in a certain part is a factor influencing the prognosis of spread. For example, with the development of a breast tumor in the inner quadrant, the prognosis may be worse than with localization in the outer quadrant, etc.

      • Form of tumor growth and histological structure of the tumor

      Superficial forms of skin cancer grow slowly, without metastasizing for many years.Infiltrative tumors grow rapidly and metastasize early. Unfavorable results of treatment of patients with lung cancer were noted in poorly differentiated forms of cancer. Melanoma is extremely active metastasized. Exophytic tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (polypoid, mushroom) are less malignant than infiltrative forms of cancer of the same organ.

      • Nature and scope of radical treatment

      A direct influence on the likelihood and nature of metastasis is the way in which the patient received treatment for the primary tumor.Modern oncology has repeatedly proved that the greatest effect (including reducing the frequency of relapses and metastasis) can be achieved with combined treatment, which uses a combination of methods: surgery, radiosurgery (CyberKnife, Gamma Knife), chemotherapy, targeted treatment, etc.

      • Patient age

      Tumor growth and metastasis in younger people, in comparison with older patients, proceeds similarly to other biological processes – faster and more intense.

      Ways of metastasis

      There are two main ways of metastasis (ways of spreading tumor cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body).

      Typical pathways of tumor metastasis

      Lymphogenous pathway – transfer of tumor cells that have grown through the wall of a lymphatic vessel with lymph flow to regional (nearby) lymph nodes or distant lymph nodes.

      The most common lymphogenous metastases are tumors such as:

      Hematogenous pathway metastasis – transfer of tumor cells from the primary tumor with the bloodstream.The lungs, liver and bones are the targets of such metastases. The most common hematogenous metastases are the following types of tumors:

      • malignant tumors of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue,
      • sarcoma,
      • hypernefroma,
      • chorionepithelioma.

      At the same time, the most frequently recorded tumors (lung and bronchial cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer) spread metastases with the same intensity both by hematogenous and lymphogenous pathways.

      Also, one of the manifestations of metastasis of tumors of the abdominal cavity (stomach cancer) and the pelvic cavity (ovarian cancer) is dissemination of the process along the peritoneum in the form of small “dusty” metastases with the development of ascites hemorrhagic effusion .

      Peritoneal cancer – the presence of cancer cells scattered by metastases along the peritoneum. The photo shows the small intestine covered with a shiny peritoneum with several small pink implantations of cancer cells (indicated by the blue arrow)

      The most predictable is lymphogenous metastasis, which is the most studied, regional metastases to the lymph nodes are one of the main objects of diagnosis in each of the cases.This makes it possible to detect metastases to the lymph nodes earlier, and to treat it more effectively.

      Lymphogenous metastases

      The main “target” of metastasis is the neck area , or rather, neck lymph nodes , through which the lymph flow passes both from the upper part of the body (head, chest cavity organs, upper extremities), and from the structures and organs of the lower half of the human body ( organs of the abdominal cavity, trunk, lower extremities).

      Typical pathways of metastasis

      Due to the peculiarities of the topography of the lymphatic system, the most frequent “routes” of lymphogenous metastasis are as follows:

      • cancer of the lower lip, anterior parts of the tongue and oral cavity, upper jaw metastasizes, first of all, to the chin and submandibular lymph nodes;
      • tumors of the posterior parts of the tongue, floor of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, thyroid gland – in the lymph nodes along the neurovascular bundle of the neck;
      • lung and breast cancer metastases to the supraclavicular region, to the lymph nodes located outside the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

      Fungal metastasis of lung cancer in the skin of the shoulder

      • cancer of the abdominal cavity metastases to the supraclavicular region, to the lymph nodes located inward from the sternocleidomastoid muscle, between and behind its legs
      • metastases of gastric cancer spread so significantly that metastases to each of the targets have their own classification depending on the “target”: metastases to the lymph nodes of the left supraclavicular region (Virchow’s metastases, Virchow’s nodes), to the lymph nodes of the pelvic region (Schnitzler’s metastases, Schnitzler’s nodes ), lymph nodes of the axillary region (Irish metastases), metastasis to the ovaries (metastasis of Krukenberg), to the navel (metastasis of Sister Maria Joseph)

      Cancer of the right ovary (1) with metastases in the abdominal cavity: metastases in the intestine (2), metastases of the diaphragm (3) and omentum (4)

      The second most frequent concentration of lymph nodes to which metastases are directed is the axillary region.Their study is required if the patient has breast cancer, skin cancer of the trunk and upper extremities (including melanoma).

      Metastases in the lymph nodes of the inguinal region give malignant tumors of the external genital organs, lower extremities, sacro-gluteal region.

      Hematogenous metastases

      Unlike lymphogenous, hematogenous metastases are often multiple and are located at a considerable distance from the primary tumor. The most common sources of hematogenous lung metastases are ovarian malignancies, breast cancer, kidney cancer, osteosarcomas, and soft tissue sarcomas.Cancer of the stomach and pancreas, rectal cancer, lung cancer, and kidney cancer often metastasize to the liver.

      Signs (symptoms) of metastases:

      For metastases to various “targets”, there are characteristic signs by which the doctor or the patient himself can determine the presence of the metastatic process:

      • Lymph nodes: lymphadenopathy;
      • lungs: cough, hemoptysis and shortness of breath;
      • liver: hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), nausea and jaundice;
      • 90,015 bones: bone pain, fractures of affected bones;

      • Brain: Neurological symptoms such as headaches, seizures and dizziness occur later.

      And vice versa, metastases to individual “target organs” are characterized by groups of localizations in which the primary tumor is likely to develop:

      • compression of the laryngeal nerve (hoarse speech, whispering, change in voice) may indicate a primary tumor of the esophagus, thyroid gland, lung;
      • pain in the spine, pelvic bones and tubular bones – may be signs of metastases of breast cancer, thyroid gland, prostate, lung cancer.

      Tumor recurrence

      When observing patients who have received treatment for a malignant neoplasm, attention should be paid not only to the development of possible metastases, but also to the recurrence of the disease – the resumption of growth from tumor cells remaining after surgical treatment or after radiation treatment. Relapse can start from a single tumor cell. As a rule, relapses occur after radical treatment, in which outdated radiation therapy technologies were used (for example, radiation therapy without visualizing the location of tumors and zones of various doses administered), surgery performed in a reduced volume due to the peculiarities of the location of the tumor or the patient’s condition.However, cases when tumor recurrence occurs from several primary foci located in different parts of the same organ (primary multiplicity) also occur.

      One of the tasks of observation after treatment is to identify a possible relapse. That is why patients are strongly advised not to ignore scheduled visits to the medical center. Methods for determining the likelihood of relapse are similar to those used for the initial diagnosis.

      However, the problem of timely detection of tumor recurrence should be solved not only by the attending physician.As a rule, the patient himself is the first to notice the previously transferred symptoms. Unfortunately, the psychological aspect of not accepting patients of the likelihood of a recurrence of the disease and the associated treatment leads to an untimely visit to the oncologist.

      The attention of family members, friends and relatives of the patient who has received radical treatment has an important role in the early diagnosis of a possible recurrence of a tumor disease. Symptoms such as weakness, swollen lymph nodes, local tenderness, mental disturbances, depression, etc.are a signal for an unscheduled visit to an oncologist and an appropriate examination. Moreover, many tumors and their metastases have a number of characteristic symptoms, for example, swelling of the upper extremities in a patient after breast cancer treatment may be associated not only with scarring of the tissues of the axillary region after the operation, but also with symptoms of growth of metastases in the axillary lymph nodes, lymphostasis in lower extremities in a patient after radical treatment for cervical cancer may also indicate a relapse of the disease or the presence of metastases.

      Rehabilitation of patients after treatment of metastases and relapses

      Rehabilitation of a patient after treatment of malignant tumors is an important component of comprehensive oncological care. Correct development and implementation of a plan for physiological and psychological rehabilitation – this task should be solved simultaneously with the end of the treatment phase and the beginning of observation in order to identify possible relapses or metastases.