Women frequently tend to ignore small changes in their breasts, believing it to be a hormonal or age issue. While it can be any of these, the problem is that it can also be a result of cancer in the organ. This is why it is important to know what to look for as an early warning sign of breast cancer. A timely diagnosis leads to a better chance of treatments, providing one with increased chances of a complete recovery.

1. The obvious lumps

Any sign of a lump is always a cause for worry, and underplaying it to make yourself not worry in the immediate future is not an advisable decision. The best way to rule it out is definitely to get a mammography at the earliest. Data shows that one in eight women are susceptible to breast cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that it is a treatable form of cancer, provided that it is caught on time. While you may go for your routine check-ups from time to time, there are three other common signs that you could possibly watch out for as a warning from your breasts, and they are as follows:

2. Nipple or skin changes on the breast

From the time you reach puberty, your nipples get a consistent shape, color, and size. If you start seeing any sudden changes to these three components, then it is a sign for you to get a doctor’s appointment immediately. Some of these changes could include the nipples going red, developing a scaly or itchy type of rash, dimpling, the nipple sucking or inversing into the skin, and color changes around the nipple skin. If there is cancer growing in your breasts, it tends to push things out of its way, and this is the reason you see such apparent changes on the nipple.

3. Swelling of the breasts

When undergoing menstruation, most women experience a form of tenderness or sensitivity and swelling in the breasts, and this is quite normal. However, this can be an early warning sign of breast cancer when the feeling continues even after menstruation. There are possibilities for even slight discoloration during these times. This is a warning bell from your body, and it is best to consult with your doctor as soon as this appears. The swelling could be a result of cancer altering the breast function and sometimes even as a result of the presence of lumps in the breasts.

4. Discharge from the nipples

Any form of nipple discharge is not an immediate concern, but if it is a symptom you are suddenly experiencing, then it is best to get a doctor’s opinion at the soonest. You need to see if the discharge is white or milky in color and if it is resulting from a squeeze or appearing only from one breast at a time. It is important to note that discharge is not the most common symptom of breast cancer and could potentially be the result of many factors.

When in doubt about any of the early warning signs of breast cancer, it is best to visit a doctor before you hit the panic button and stress over it.