Early detection of any changes in the breasts constitutes the first line of defense to increase the chances of recovery from diseases, with breast cancer at the forefront.
Kuwaiti Dr. Farah Sadeq, a consultant in breast disease diagnosis, emphasizes that self-awareness, committing to regular medical examinations, and monitoring breast changes are of utmost necessity.
She said: «Despite the intensified medical and media efforts on breast cancer awareness campaigns and doctors' keenness to conduct seminars, lectures, and activities encouraging women to undergo regular medical examinations, the turnout for screening remains weak. The majority excuse themselves by saying they do not want to be screened for fear of discovery of the disease, despite early detection being crucial for saving lives, as many believe they should wait until they are ill before getting screened. However, this is a flawed equation for breast cancer. The primary goal of the screening plan is to detect the disease early before any symptoms on the breast appear, reaching the stage where symptoms are felt usually indicates advancement of the malignant disease, making treatment difficult, increasing the intensity of the treatment plan, and decreasing the chances of recovery».
Symptoms Requiring Urgent Consultation
Within the context of health awareness, Dr. Farah reviewed 10 symptoms that appear on the breast, emphasizing the importance of not ignoring them and quickly seeking medical advice:
1 - Appearance of a new and persistent lump (does not disappear)
He majority of breast lumps (over 80% in some statistics) are benign, but a cancerous lump is usually hard, fixed, with irregular edges, and differs from the surrounding breast tissue. Most importantly, it does not disappear after the menstrual cycle ends.
2 - Abnormal discharge
Milky or lactating discharges from the breasts are generally benign and due to hormonal reasons (such as elevated prolactin). However, discharges that should cause concern are those that are spontaneous (exit without squeezing), come from only one duct, and are bloody red or clear, as these discharges may indicate intraductal papillary tumors, or in very rare cases, cancer.
3 - Skin changes
The appearance of the breast skin resembling orange peel, Peau d'orange, where the skin becomes thick and pitted, is a rare but very serious sign, often indicating inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive form that spreads quickly through the lymphatic vessels.
4 - Unexplained redness, swelling, or heat
Redness, swelling, and heat can be signs of inflammation in the breast, especially during breastfeeding. However, if these symptoms appear in a non-breastfeeding woman, and persist without improvement despite treatment with antibiotics, a medical examination should be conducted to rule out inflammatory breast cancer.
5 - Enlargement of the lymph nodes under the armpit
Lymph nodes are the filter stations in the body, and their enlargement can be due to a simple infection or inflammation. However, any solid, painless, and persistent enlargement in the armpit area, especially on the same side as the breast, is considered a warning sign that may indicate the spread of cancer cells from the breast to the lymph nodes.
6 - Itching or scaling
Paget's disease of the breast is a rare form of cancer that appears on the skin of the nipple and areola, and is often confused with eczema or dermatitis. It is characterized by persistent itchiness, redness, and scaling that do not respond to topical creams.
7 - Persistent pain focused in a specific area
Although breast cancer in its early stages is rarely painful (the cancerous lump is usually painless), persistent and focused pain in one spot of the breast not associated with the hormonal cycle or breastfeeding should be medically examined.
8 - Recent retraction or inversion of the nipple
If the nipple is naturally inverted (turned inward) since birth, there is no cause for concern. However, a sudden inversion or recent retraction in a nipple of one breast is a strong indicator of an underlying growing mass pulling the tissue inward.
9 - Presence of dimpling or puckering
The appearance of dimpling, depression, or a small pucker in the skin of the breast when lifting the arms or moving the breast indicates "pulling" in the skin, suggesting that the mass has adhered to the tissues beneath it and pulled them along with it, and is a sign requiring rapid medical evaluation.
10 - Sudden change in size and shape
Slight variations in breast size are very normal, but any sudden and noticeable change in the size, shape, or overall appearance of one breast only (whether swelling or shrinking) is an indicator requiring immediate attention. This change could be evidence of a rapid internal growth process.
Why emphasize the importance of early detection?
Dr. Farah explained, saying: «Before the cancerous tumor forms, cancerous cells take the form of small calcifications that the woman does not feel and are not palpable, and this stage is called (pre-cancerous tumorous formation). It is the best stage for detecting cancer and recovering from it. It can be detected through radiographic imaging (mammogram).
Medical reports confirm that discovering cancer in its early stage makes it easier to treat and increases the chance of recovery to reach 97%. Whereas, discovering cancer at a later stage, after palpable and noticeable symptoms appear (once the tumor has grown and spread to the lymph nodes, lung, and liver), is associated with a decrease in recovery rates, thereby changing the goal of treatment to just maintaining life and improving its quality only.
Therefore, undergoing regular radiographic screening (routine mammogram) reveals any initial changes, because the accuracy of the exam shows both calcifications and tumors, which can be as small as 2 millimeters (very small and not felt by hand)».
◄ Regular screening saves lives
The purpose of the radiographic exam (routine mammogram) is to detect very small tumors that can neither be felt by hand nor seen by eye.
Therefore, it is not enough for women to rely on self-examination alone. Global health organizations recommend starting routine mammogram screenings for women once they reach the age of 40, offering early medical examination if high-risk factors are present, such as a positive family history of the disease.
Dr. Farah stresses that committing to monthly self-examinations and regular imaging screenings is a personal responsibility to protect breast health and save lives.
