Most people know that a breast lump can be a sign of breast cancer. But few are familiar with the other symptoms of the disease—a condition that affects their health. About 4 million women and thousands of men in the United States
That’s according to a survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and released Monday. A nationwide representative sample survey was conducted from September 22 to 24, with more than 1,000 people surveyed online or by phone.
The survey found that 93 percent of adults believe a lump is a potential sign of breast cancer, but experts at Ohio State University say most breast cancers don’t have a lump that can be detected by touch. What’s more, palpable lumps are often a sign of fast-growing or advanced cancers, which are more difficult to treat.
Few respondents recognized the other five more common symptoms of breast cancer. While reporting a potential health problem to your doctor can be scary, there’s good news: Thanks to advances in medicine, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer that hasn’t spread in the U.S. is 99 percent, according to statistics Susan G. Coleman Foundation.
Less common breast cancer symptoms
Symptoms recognized by less than half of respondents included:
Nipples that are retracted, inverted, or pointed downward: Only 31% of respondents believed this was a symptom requiring medical attention. Experts say nipple changes are the most common symptom of male breast cancer.
Breast folds: According to experts at Ohio State University, this creates an indentation when you raise your arm. Only 39% believed this was a symptom requiring medical attention.
Partial breast loss of feeling: Only 41% believed this was a symptom requiring medical attention.
Breast skin dimpling/thickening: This may cause the surface of the breast to look like orange peel. Only 45% of respondents believed this was a symptom requiring medical attention.
Nipple discharge: This includes clear, bloody, and/or milky discharge. Women who experience milky discharge while not breastfeeding should be checked by a doctor, but it may be a sign of another condition. The most worrisome type of discharge is blood and/or clear, According to the American Breast Cancer Foundation. Only 51% believed this was a symptom requiring medical attention.
Although mammography is “first.” 1 Defense Measures to Detect and Address Breast Cancer in Its earliest, Most Treatable Stages” It’s also important for people, including men, to become familiar with the typical look and feel of their breasts, Dr. Ashley Parisera breast oncologist at The Ohio State University, said in a press release About the investigation.
That way, she said, they can alert healthcare providers to even subtle changes, giving them the best chance of effectively resolving the issue, if there is one.
“Breast cancer can appear in many ways,” she added. While most breast changes are the result of aging and childbirth, “it’s important that people feel safe addressing these issues promptly with their doctor.”
Breast Cancer Screening Guide
Mammography is the primary tool for early breast cancer detection. But a third of women surveyed said they were unsure when to have their first mammogram, with women under 30 particularly confused.
The American College of Radiology and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that women at moderate risk be screened at age 40. (Men are not routinely screened for breast cancer.) But experts at Ohio State University say patients should discuss their personal circumstances, including family history and risk factors, with their doctors to develop a screening plan that’s right for them.
For example, they say, women with dense breast tissue should be closely monitored because they are at slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer, and dense breast tissue can hide small tumors. What’s more, black people and people of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry are also at higher risk and should be screened more frequently.
What men should know about breast cancer
Although breast cancer is less common in men, it can and does occur.According to statistics, more than 2,000 American men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and about 500 of them die. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One percent of breast cancers occur in men. The most common symptom is nipple changes, Pariser said.
She added that it is important that men “feel empowered to seek medical attention for symptoms, especially if they have a strong family history of breast cancer”.
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