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Recognizing what a breast cancer lump looks like may be a bit difficult to explain. To understand better, look further at the characteristics, causes and differences with tumors.
Sometimes, a lump in the breast is a symptom of breast cancer. This lump usually feels hard, uneven, and does not cause pain. However, not all lumps in the breast indicate cancer, as said by Angelica Balingit, MD, quoted from the Medical News Today page.
Other warning signs of breast cancer to look out for are nipple discharge, dimpling, and breast swelling or thickening. Basically, no one’s breasts are the same, and their appearance and feel can change throughout the menstrual cycle.
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Breast cancer lump
Many conditions and medications can cause lumps in the breast. These include the transition to menopause, cessation of menstruation, birth control, including pills and injections, and pregnancy. However, if someone is worried about a lump, it is best to talk to a doctor who can examine it in more depth.
Any visible changes need to be looked at more deeply. For example, when a woman sees or feels changes in her breasts, whether it’s a new lump or dimples on the skin, she should consult a doctor who will physically examine the breasts. To find out more about the lump, the doctor will usually order a mammogram or ultrasound examination.
Then, any other changes in the breasts that you should be aware of also include the following, Mother:
1. Nipple discharge, which may be clear or tea-colored.
2. Nipple texture and color change.
3. changes in the breasts, including discoloration and itchy, scaly, or dimpled skin.
Please note that breast cancer lumps do not have a definite size. Some may be the size of a pea, while others may be larger. Any lump, no matter how big or small, can cause cancer.
This means that the longer the cancerous lump grows, the greater the risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body. This is why it is important for people to consult a doctor immediately once they notice a lump in their breast of any size.
Benign lumps in the breast are not cancerous, and it is normal for someone to experience them at some point in their life. Cysts and fibroadenomas are examples of benign lumps in the breast. According to Breastcancer.org, symptoms of benign breast lumps include general breast pain, nipple pain, and yellow or green discharge from the nipple.
However, some types of breast cancer also present with these symptoms, so it is important for a person to consult a doctor as soon as they notice any changes in their breasts.
In addition, some benign breast conditions can also increase a person’s risk of developing breast cancer in the future. In this case, the doctor will develop a treatment plan and monitor the breasts for changes.
Meanwhile, a tumor is a collection of abnormal tissue. There are two types of breast cancer tumors, namely tumors that are non-cancerous, or ‘benign’, and tumors that are cancerous, which are ‘malignant’.
Breast Illustration/ Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/Mykola Sosiukin
Tumor benign
When a tumor is diagnosed as benign, doctors will usually leave it alone rather than remove it. Although these tumors are generally not aggressive towards surrounding tissue, sometimes they continue to grow, pressing on other tissue and causing pain or other problems. In this situation, the tumor is removed so that the pain or complications subside.
Tumor wins
Malignant tumors are cancerous and may be aggressive because they invade and destroy surrounding tissue. If there is a suspicion of a malignant tumor, the doctor will perform a biopsy to determine the severity or aggressiveness of the tumor, as quoted from the National Breast Cancer page.
Metastatic cancer
Metastatic cancer occurs when cancer cells from a malignant tumor spread to other parts of the body, usually through the lymph system or using the bloodstream, and form secondary tumors. These secondary tumors, known as metastatic disease, still consist of breast cancer cells, but are now located within another organ, such as the bones, liver, or lungs.
Tumor grading is a system used by pathologists to classify malignant breast cancer tumors based on the severity of the mutation and the likelihood of its spread.
Breast cancer cells are examined under a microscope to determine, among other things, how similar the breast cancer cells are to healthy cells (called the histological grade) and the shape and size of the tumor cell nuclei (called the nuclear grade) as well as how quickly the cells develop. These cells divide and reproduce.
When treating breast cancer, tumors are often graded on a scale of one to three that indicates how aggressive the cancer cells are:
Low grade (1): Well differentiated
Middle class (2): Moderately differentiated
High grade (3): Poorly differentiated
Low-grade tumors usually look more like normal tissue under a microscope. High-grade tumors look abnormal and less like normal tissue and tend to be more aggressive.
Please note that the grade of breast cancer tumors is different from the stage of cancer. Tumor grade helps determine the best treatment plan, and in general, a lower tumor grade means a greater chance of full recovery. However, there are also people who recover completely at any stage and even at the highest level of aggressive tumors.
It’s a good idea to consult about any changes that occur and are found in the breasts. Then, immediately see a doctor so that the doctor can observe and take further action.
Hopefully the information helps, Mother.
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