Dr. Nicole Saphier said hidden signs of breast cancer include abnormal nipple discharge, itchy or inflamed skin and swollen lymph nodes.
Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and medical contributor for Fox News, says women should be aware that there are less obvious signs of breast cancer they should look out for to avoid later complications.
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black women, according to a report by Verywell Health, and has become the most fatal cancer in Black women over the past several years. “One of the biggest goals when it comes to breast cancer detection is to try and discover those cancers before they cause any problems,” Saphier told Fox News Digital. “Until you do that biopsy … you won’t necessarily know that it’s an inflammatory cancer that’s causing these issues…And unfortunately, this can lead to a later diagnosis.”
According to the American Cancer Society, the most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, but Dr. Saphier noted, “It’s not just about feeling a lump,” and women should pay attention to their bodies and look out for the following hidden symptoms that may prompt examination from a medical professional.
Nipple discharge, or fluid leakage from one breast or both, is normal, but studies found the symptom accounts for 3% to 9% of breast cancer patients. Discharge that leaks milky, yellow, or green following breastfeeding may not be problematic, according to Health.com. However, bloody discharge is abnormal and should be examined by a healthcare professional as it can be a warning sign of breast cancer.
“Some women … see a little bit of blood in their bra,” Dr. Saphier said. “This can be a sign of cancer cells in the duct.”
Dr. Saphier said women should also pay attention to the itchiness of the skin on their breasts or the nipple itself. “This could be an indicator of an inflammatory process inside the breast,” she said.
Looking out for any swelling or lumps in the lymph nodes is also important; women should also pay attention to the armpit area. “People come in with a lump,” the radiologist said. “Sometimes it can be something benign, like a cyst, but it can also be a cancer.” This hidden sign can signal that “not only is there a cancer in the breast, but it has now traveled to the lymph nodes.”
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Source: Black Enterprise
