Lumps in the breast | Signs of breast cancer

Lumps in the breast

A palpable lump in the breast that cannot be moved can be an indication of breast cancer. However, a lump in the breast tissue can also be benign and does not necessarily have to be a tumour. Cysts are small fluid-filled blisters in the breast tissue, which can be more or less bulging depending on the cycle and often cause pain due to pressure on surrounding tissue.

Cysts are palpable as nodular structures in the breast, but are completely harmless. Many, especially young women, have fine nodules in the breast tissue. These nodules are caused by an increase in connective tissue and are harmless, this is called mastopathy. Other harmless causes of a lump in the breast can be fat tumours (lipomas) or benign fibroadenomas (new formations in the mammary gland). If a woman notices nodular changes in her breast, it is essential to consult a doctor, who can then determine whether the lump is harmless or whether it is breast cancer.

Pain

Pain is not a typical sign of breast cancer. Especially not at an early stage of the disease. The lumps that form are characteristically painlessly palpable in the case of a malignant tumour, for example.

Only in the further course of the disease can pain occur, which can manifest itself by a pulling or burning sensation. In an advanced stage, metastases can cause pain. For example, if the tumour spreads into the bone, this leads to bone pain.

The spinal column is often the site of metastasis in the bones. Breast cancer can cause pain in the arm and armpit. There are many lymph channels in the breast, from which lymph is transported to the lymph nodes in the armpit.

Lymph nodes are control stations of the immune system where the lymph is filtered. In the case of a tumor disease, there is a palpable swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpits and the enlarged lymph nodes can cause pain that radiates into the arm. In rare cases, chronic back pain can be caused by breast cancer. In the early stages of breast cancer, pain can occur between the shoulder blades in the area of the upper back. Even in a very advanced tumor disease, when the tumor cells are already spreading (metastasizing) throughout the body, an infestation of the spine can cause back pain.

Changes in the skin

Pimples and redness on the breasts can be signs of breast cancer. These can be skin metastases that develop in the more advanced stages of cancer, when the tumour has already spread throughout the body. These skin metastases first appear as small pimples, which then grow into small palpable nodules and can look like ulcers.

These pimples occur mainly in the breast area and in the neck region. Women who notice pimples or skin changes on their breasts should as a precaution go to the doctor and have them checked to see if they are breast cancer. The appearance of the breast can give important clues as to whether a tumour is present.

The formation of dimples, dents and furrows in the skin or the appearance of enlarged pores (the so-called “orange peel skin”) are signs of breast cancer. The growth of the tumour in the breast can cause the skin to retract inwards, which is often shown by the nipple, which can then invert. Changes in the skin, such as redness or scaling, can be signs of breast cancer.

Above all, a reddening of the skin that persists for a long time and does not subside can be caused by an inflammatory carcinoma. The breast is warm, reddened and swollen due to the inflammation. This form of breast cancer is rather rare, but very dangerous, because the cancer cells, starting from the tumour in the breast, spread quickly throughout the body along lymph vessels (metastases) and attack healthy tissue. This phenomenon is also called lymphangiosis carcinomatosa.