When to Check for Breast Cancer: Early Signs & Symptoms

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, affecting millions of women and, in rare cases, men. Checking for it provides a person with answers that either give them an extra sense of security, or makes them aware of a problem that must be addressed. Early detection significantly improves survival rates, making awareness of breast cancer symptoms and signs very crucial. This does bring up the question as to when someone should check for breast cancer. While these screenings are covered by a wide range of medical insurance plans worldwide, even those allowances have their limits.

The immediate short answer to the question of when someone should check for breast cancer is when they are over the age of forty. It is recommended that they have a screening for the disease at least once a year. It should be noted that while a traditional executive check-up has the potential to spot the early signs of breast cancer, it is not suited to do that specifically, so even a clean bill of health from it may not be a solid indicator that a person is breast cancer-free.

The more complex answer involves understanding what the major possible breast cancer causes are, as well as early breast cancer signs and symptoms. Being aware of what to look out for allows individuals to take proactive steps toward potentially spotting and treating breast cancer sooner, boosting the possibility of recovery. This first essay of three will focus on those aforementioned early signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and address other common queries about detecting it, such as whether it hurts or not, and its likely causes. 

What Causes Breast Cancer? 

To begin, there is the question of “What causes breast cancer?” Distressingly, there is no singular answer as to where breast cancer originates. Rather, it can come from multiple genetic, hormonal, environmental, and lifestyle factors, or a combination of them. We’ll list a number of these potential causes, begin with those that are harder to address, and then recommend ways to mitigate the risks some of these causes present:

1. Genetic Predilections and Mutations

One of the biggest and least actionable causes of breast cancer as it’s inherent and difficult to perceive. Certain inherited genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, significantly increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. Individuals with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should consider genetic testing to assess their risk.

2. Hormonal Influence & Reproductive Factors

Hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, play a key role in breast cell growth. There is, however, the possibility of them helping malignant breast cell growth as well. Prolonged exposure to high estrogen hormone levels, whether through early menstruation, late menopause, or hormone replacement therapy, may contribute to the development of breast cancer.

This particular cause of breast cancer also pertains to a woman having children after the age of 30 or having no children at all because benign breast cell differentiation partly relies on pregnancy-induced hormonal changes. Additionally, breast feeding helps keep estrogen levels at a respectable level while oftentimes removing damaged cells from breast tissue. Medication to balance out hormones, monitoring hormone balances, and regular breast nursing/pumping can guard against this factor to a degree. In more extreme cases, oophorectomies or mastectomies can be considered.

Other hormonal factors include prolonged use of birth control contraceptives, obesity, heightened insulin resistance, and endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A and phthalates, which can be found in certain plastics and cosmetics.

3. Age and Gender

Until a cure can be found for senescence, the deterioration that comes with advanced age, there’s even less that can be done about this probable breast cancer cause. Advising anyone with “Stop growing old,” would thus be highly irresponsible. The risk of breast cancer increases with age for both men and women. The highest risk age range starts from 50 onwards, but someone having regular screenings while still being in their 40s or even when they reach 40 itself can better their chances of guarding against breast cancer by spotting its early signs.

4. Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Unhealthy lifestyle choices can increase the risk of breast cancer. There’s obesity, as mentioned before, but there are also other physical states and consumption choices that can clump together and form a bonafide breast cancer cause. Factors such as obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and lack of physical activity have all been linked to a higher chance of developing the disease.

5. Radiation Exposure

Those who know of radiotherapy in passing as an oncological procedure may be puzzled as to how radiation can cause the breast cancer it’s used to treat. That’s because being hit with too much radiation over time or all at once can cause a person’s cells to be heavily damaged or mutate, facilitating the manifestation of breast cancer. In fact, unsafe exposure to radiation therapy for other tumors, neurological disorders, eye conditions, thyroid disorders, scar prevention, degenerative joint diseases, and the like can elevate the risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

Early Breast Cancer Signs & Symptoms

As listed above, breast cancer can come about for a variety of reasons, some more subtle than others. Naturally, these will raise further queries about how someone can tell if they have breast cancer or not: “Does breast cancer hurt?”, “Does breast cancer not hurt?”, “My heart feels like it’s going a little fast, is that a breast cancer symptom?”, “What about if your ribs ache a bit all of a sudden?”

Recognizing early signs of breast cancer and breast cancer symptoms can be vital for resolving the disease. While breast cancer often doesn’t hurt in its initial stages, some individuals may experience discomfort or unusual sensations. 

1. Lumps or Thickened Areas in the Breast

A lump or mass in the breast is one of the most recognized signs of breast cancer. Not all lumps are cancerous; some may be benign cysts or fibrous tissue. Key regions that a person can check for lumps consist of:

• Upper Outer Quadrant (Near Armpit)
• Under the Nipple & Areola
• Lower Breast Region
• Near the Collarbone
• Underarm (Anxillary Region under the shoulder joint where the arm connects to the shoulder)

To check for these lumps, the pads of the fingers should make circular motions in these areas to feel for them. For those above forty, it should be done once a month. For women above forty, it’s advisable to also check a week after their menstrual cycle. There will usually be no pain to signal that they are there, so what should be scrutinized is unusual clustered thickening or firmness.

However, even though this symptom of breast cancer may not hurt, any new lump should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. 

Before seeing a doctor, individuals should keep these breast lump measurements in mind, as they can indicate how dangerous they might be:

• Small Lumps (<2 cm / <0.8 inches): These are often just cysts, fibroadenomas, or other growths. Likely benign, though the possibility of malignancy remains.
• Medium-Sized Lumps (2-5 cm / 0.8-2 inches): Further characterized by being firm, immovable, and appearing amidst other breast cancer symptoms on this list. The likelihood of malignancy is higher with these dimensions.
• Large Lumps (>5 cm / >2 inches): These might just be fatty growths (lipomas), but larger masses have a higher chance of being cancerous, especially if they share traits with medium-sized lumps.

2. Changes in Breast Shape or Size

Breasts naturally change over time, but sudden alterations in shape or size could be a sign of underlying oncological issues. Swelling, uneven size, or changes in contour should not be ignored as a probable breast cancer symptom.

3. Unexplained Breast Asymmetry

While natural asymmetry is common, any sudden or noticeable difference in breast size, particularly when accompanied by other breast cancer symptoms, should be examined.

4. Skin Changes on the Breast

Signs such as dimpling, puckering, redness, or an “orange peel” texture on the skin may indicate inflammatory breast cancer, which does hurt, as it’s a more aggressive form of the disease. 

5. Nipple Abnormalities

Changes in the nipples can also be a sign or symptom of breast cancer:

• Nipple inversion (when the nipple pulls inward instead of pointing outward)
• Unusual discharge (especially blood-stained fluid)
• Scaly, crusty, or itchy skin around the nipple

6. Persistent Breast or Nipple Pain

While breast cancer does not usually hurt in its early stages, some individuals may experience discomfort, tenderness, or aching in the breast or nipple. If pain persists without an apparent provocation, further evaluation is recommended.

7. Swelling in the Armpit or Collarbone Area

Breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes, causing swelling in the underarm or collarbone region. If someone notices persistent lumps or discomfort in these areas, they should schedule a hospital visit at their earliest convenience.

Assessment Abridged

Breast cancer is a serious disease, but early detection greatly increases the chances of successful treatment. Knowing what causes breast cancer, recognizing early breast cancer signs and symptoms, and understanding when to seek medical attention can save lives. A visit to the doctor should be considered if a potential patient:

• Notices any of the breast cancer symptoms or signs mentioned above
• Has a strong family history of breast cancer
• Is over the age of 40 and has not had a recent breast exam
• Experiences persistent breast pain that doesn’t subside
• Observes unusual changes in your breasts that last more than two weeks

Proactive monitoring and early intervention are key to improving survival rates and maintaining overall health.

Ideally, this would be the only article relating to this topic that anyone would ever need. The next one in this series will cover more formal breast cancer screening methods, such as mammograms and PET scans, in the event that these signs are made apparent and continue to linger.