known more about breast disorder

Breast disorders may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Most are noncancerous and not life threatening. Often, they do not require treatment. In contrast, breast cancer can mean loss of a breast or of life.

Thus, for many women, breast cancer is their worst fear. However, potential problems can be detected early when women regularly examine their breasts themselves, are examined regularly by their doctor, and have mammograms as recommended. Early detection of breast cancer is essential to successful treatment.

Symptoms

Symptoms related to the breast are common. They are the reason for more than 15 million visits to the doctor each year. These symptoms include

• Breast pain
• Lumps
• A discharge from the nipple
• Changes in the breast's skin (for example, the breast's skin may become pitted, puckered, red, thickened, or dimpled)
  
  
  

  Breast symptoms do not necessarily mean that a woman has breast cancer or another serious disorder. For example, monthly breast tenderness that is related to hormonal changes before a menstrual period does not indicate a serious disorder.

  
  However, women should see their doctor if they observe any change in a breast, particularly any of the following:

  • A lump that feels distinctly different from other breast tissue
  • A lump that is stuck to the skin or chest wall
  • A lump that does not go away
  • Swelling that does not go away
  • Pitting, puckering, reddening, thickening, or dimpling in the skin of the breast
  • Scaly skin around the nipple
  • Changes in the shape of the breast
  • Changes in the nipple, such as being pulled inward
  • Discharge from the nipple, especially if it is bloody and/or occurs spontaneously (that is, without the nipple's being squeezed or stimulated by other means
    
    
    

    Evaluation

    Doctors ask the woman about the symptoms she is having and other information related to possible causes, including

    • What the symptoms are
    • How long the woman has had the symptoms
    • Whether the symptoms occur at certain times of the month (related to the menstrual cycle)
    • Whether she is pregnant
    • What drugs she is taking
    • Whether she or a family member has had breast cancer
    • When she had her last mammogram and what the results were

    
    

    Breast examination

    A breast examination is done. With the woman sitting or lying down, the doctor inspects the breasts for irregularities in shape, a nipple that turns inward (inverted nipple), and lumps. The doctor also checks for dimpling, thickening, redness, or tightening of the skin over the breast. The nipples are squeezed to check for a discharge. The armpits are checked for enlarged lymph nodes.

    
    The doctor may examine the breast and armpits with the woman in different positions. For example, while sitting, she may be asked to press her palms together in front of the forehead. This position makes the chest muscles contract and makes subtle changes in the breast more noticeable.

    
    The doctor may review the technique for breast self-examination with the woman during the examination. Techniques for the doctor's examination and self-examination are similar.