6 early symptoms of breast cancer to watch out for

A chest that is not not as usual requires medical advice. Although they are anxiety-provoking, these breast “abnormalities” are not not necessarily a sign of a serious pathology, but only a health professional, using different tests, will be able to make the difference and rule out a breast cancer diagnosis. In this month ofPink October dedicated to breast cancer, monitoring is essential and allows any sign of breast cancer to be detected early.

Redness of the skin

“Of the skin redness can be witnesses of suspicious lesions“, immediately indicates Dr Elisabeth Russ, pathologist, specialized in the diagnosis of breast cancer. In the same way, a change in texture or the pigmentation of the breast or areola (the small circle of darker color which surrounds the nipple) should also alert.

Breast deformity

“What is called a flat, when the roundness of the breast is no longer the same – it is “flatter” than before – should lead you to consult a doctor“, insists Dr. Elizabeth Russ. In the same way, a breast which has a small dimple on the side or who changes size (outside the rules) must alert.

A retracted nipple

“Nipple retraction – in other words, a nipple that retracts or umbilicates like a belly button – can be a warning sign“, warns Dr. Russ.

A lump in the breast

A hard, non-moving ball with irregular contours that persists may suggest breast cancer. Conversely, a lump with well-defined and smooth edges, which “rolls” under the fingers when palpating the breast, rather suggests a benign lesion such as a fibroadenoma. In all cases, only imaging examinations (or even a biopsy) will allow the type of lesion to be assessed. “Be careful, on small breasts, the lump will be felt more easily. On large breasts, it can be a little more “drowned” in the mass and not feeling during palpation“, underlines the expert

A hard lymph node under the armpit

The appearance of a lymph node under the armpit can be a warning sign. If you feel a hard lump that is not painful, you should consult your doctor or gynecologist. “Be careful, there are particular contexts which potentially rule out a suspicious lymph node. For example, during Covid, we observe lymph nodes which appear as a post-vaccination reaction. You should therefore not be overly concerned if you feel a lymph node under your armpit, but you should still talk to a doctor. But outside the Covid period, the appearance of a lymph node is not trivial. In the same way, a woman waxing her armpits with a manual or electric razor, may have inflammation of the armpit hair, which can lead to the appearance of small hard balls. In case of small skin lesions (eczema under the arm), the axillary lymph nodes also tend to enlarge“, explains our interlocutor.

Nipple discharge

Nipple discharge corresponds to fluid leaking from one or more nipple ducts. The flow can only occur on one side, sometimes bothaccompanied by pain, be spontaneous or occur after nipple pressure. Depending on the characteristics and its color, nipple discharge does not mean the same thing. A thick, greenish, brown, or bloody discharge, accompanied by a burning sensation or nipple retraction, may suggest breast cancer. This requires a medical consultation and clinical examination.

Does breast cancer hurt?

“He is very rare for breast cancer to be revealed by pain”, confirms the specialist. But it is not impossible. Most of the time, breast cancer is suspected when you feel a hard, painless nodule. “Anything that is painful is ultimately less worrying than what is hard, non-mobile (a ball that does not move between the fingers when palpated) and not painful, except in specific contexts. very rare of inflammatory cancers“, reassures our specialist. Breast pain is therefore, in the vast majority of cases, the symptom of a non-cancerous condition. However, breast pain should be monitored and should be the subject of a medical consultation. “As it evolves, the tumor grows and increases in volume. However, a cancer can progress very slowly, such as a low-grade hormone-sensitive cancer.“, explains Dr. Russ.

“4 times a yearat each change of season for example, the woman can examine herself, in addition to a consultation with the gynecologist once a yearrecommends our expert. Self-examination must be done outside the menstrual period, ideally in the middle of the cycle (at least one week after the end of the period)“. The self-palpation is done in two stages:

1. We look in the mirror to observe our chest. “We check the shape of her breasts in two positions. The first: arms alongside the body then the second, arms raised“. We also look at the skin of the breasts (if there is no redness or lesions), the condition of the two nipples (if they are not retracted), the shape of the breasts (their roundness.. .)
2. We self-examine ourselves while still standing in front of the mirror: the right hand palpates the left breast and the left hand palpates the right breast. “To do this, we use the pads of the fingers (fingertips) to flatten the breast against the thorax, going from the region located under the clavicle to below the inframammary fold, from the outside to the sternum, between the two breasts. Do not forget to palpate the area of ​​the axillary region (at armpit level) to check that there is no ball“.

In addition to regular breast self-examination,the patient is offered personalized screening at the Hartmann clinic using a test called MammoRisk (created by the French start-up Prédilife). This is’a saliva test which makes it possible to assess the risk of cancer of a patient and therefore to obtain closer monitoring“, explains our expert. This preventive test is aimed at all women aged 40 to 74 (organized screening is from age 50) with no known specific risk of breast cancer and wishing to monitor their risk. “The consultation takes place in three parties : the collection of individual clinical data (age, personal and family history), a mammogram assessing breast density and a saliva genetic test, sent to the Institut Curie which gives a result within approximately three weeks.” At the end of the test, a clear assessment makes it possible to precisely assess the patient’s risk of developing breast cancer in the next 5 years. “If the patient is part of a group with a higher than average risk of cancer, more personalized follow-up and health-dietary advice are given (do a mammogram every year rather than every two years, do more physical activity, etc.) to try to reduce this excess risk”, explains our interlocutor. This test is available from gynecologists, radiologists, general practitioners at an average price of 180 euros (not reimbursed by Social Security and partially covered by certain mutual insurance companies)

Thanks to Dr Elisabeth Russ, pathologist, specialized in the diagnosis of breast cancer.