You need to look after your own health. This includes staying informed about issues that affect your health. That means knowing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women. However, early detection can mean complete recovery.

The signs of breast cancer include changes in shape or size. Also changes in the skin or nipple should be checked. Swollen breasts can also be a signal. Your breast may feel warm or red. You may also have skin that resembles an orange peel. Any puckering or dumpling could signal cancer. Look for hard lumps in your breast tissue. The best way to do this is to feel your breasts firmly in a circular pattern. You should examine your breast after every menstrual cycle. Wait about five days after your period. Also look for discharge from your nipple. Itching, burning or eczema like symptoms could also be a sign of cancer. Inverted nipples are also cause for concern.

Although pain does not necessarily indicate cancer, it can be a sign of other diseases. You may want to discuss health issues such as mastodynia with your doctor. If breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, you may have other symptoms. It is common to spread to the bone, lungs, liver or brain. Spontaneous weight loss may be a sign of this type of cancer. Fevers or chills can also be an indication. Bone or joint pain should be discussed with your doctor.

You should also ask your doctor for a breast exam every year or two. Once you reach 40 years of age, you will likely be required to have a mammogram every year as well. This x-ray can detect problems years before you could find them by hand. You should also have a mammogram about a week after your period. It involves two metal plates firmly pressing on either side of your breast. X-ray images are taken from several angles.

There are other options for breast tests such as thermography. This exam doesn’t use radiation. MRI or ultrasound is sometimes used. You should discuss your options with your doctor.

You should also talk about your medical history with your doctor. If you have a close family member who had breast cancer, you should have professional exams and tests sooner. Your risk is doubled if one family member has the disease, and can be as high as five times as much if you have two family members with the disease.

If you drink more than one serving of alcohol a day, you are at an increased risk of breast cancer. If you smoke you are also substantially increasing your risk. Nicotine seems to be attracted to certain breast cells, where it coats the cell, and triggers uncontrolled growth. Nicotine also seems to spread cancer more quickly to the rest of the body. If you did not have children before age 30, you may also face a higher chance of breast cancer.

Breast feeding seems to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Breast massage has also been recommended. A healthy diet including a wide variety of fruits and vegetables can prevent all sorts of disease. Proper levels of Vitamin D have also been related to healthy breasts. Essential fatty acids are beneficial. This can include olive oils, nuts, seeds and fatty fish. Lean meat and dairy products are also part of a healthy diet.

Daily exercise is also necessary to prevent cancer and other health issues. Maintaining a proper body weight can help prevent cancer. Exercise also reduces stress, which has shown some links to cancer. Try to avoid pollutants and added chemicals to foods, cosmetics or cleaning products.

Related Posts

• Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
• What Are Some Of The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer?
• Signs Of Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer Symptoms And Treatment
• Signs Of Breast Cancer – Get to Know Them