Most women with breast cancer cells will have these 5 symptoms, so be careful

Ms. Li was tidying her clothes in front of the mirror as usual. Inadvertently, her fingers gently slid across her left breast and touched an unusual lump. At that moment, her heart suddenly tightened and an inexplicable fear arose. It was not that Ms. Li had never heard of breast cancer, but this word had always been a distant existence in her mind and had nothing to do with her. However, the reality was so cruel that the lump she accidentally found seemed to be a silent warning from fate, reminding her that she must face up to her breast health. At first, Ms. Li tried to comfort herself with various reasons: maybe it was just breast hyperplasia, which would get better after a while; or maybe it was because of the recent work pressure that she had a minor physical problem. But as time went by, the lump not only did not disappear, but became increasingly obvious, accompanied by occasional tingling, which she could no longer ignore. Under the persuasion of her family, Ms. Li finally plucked up the courage to go to the hospital. After a series of careful examinations, the doctor gave the diagnosis she was most reluctant to hear - breast cancer.

At that moment, Ms. Li's world seemed to collapse, and all her strength and rationality disintegrated in an instant.

However, it was at this brink of despair that Ms. Li found the strength to be reborn.

She realized that escape and denial would not solve the problem, and only by facing it positively could she defeat the disease.

So, with the support of her family and doctors, she began the long and difficult journey of treatment.

1. Hidden lumps: an initial warning sign of breast cancer

A lump in the breast is often one of the earliest symptoms of breast cancer.

However, because many women do not pay enough attention to breast health, they often miss the best time for treatment.

Ms. Li's story tells us how important it is to perform regular breast self-examination.

Every month, within 7-10 days after the end of menstruation, women should carefully examine their breasts, paying attention to any abnormal changes such as lumps, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, etc.

If any abnormality is found, seek medical attention immediately for early diagnosis and treatment.

Breast self-examination is not difficult, but you need to master the correct method.

Women can stand in front of a mirror and carefully observe the appearance and symmetry of their breasts;

Then use your palm to gently press the breast, starting from the upper outer quadrant and checking each quadrant in turn in a clockwise direction;

Finally, check the nipple and areola area.

It should be noted that during self-examination, you should avoid squeezing the breast tissue too hard to avoid misjudging it as a lump.

2. Subtle changes in the skin: external manifestations of breast cancer

In addition to a lump, breast cancer may cause subtle changes in the skin of the breast.

For example, the skin may become sunken to form the "dimple sign" and the skin may become thicker and coarser to form the "orange peel-like change".

These changes are often caused by cancer cells invading the suspensory ligaments or lymphatic vessels of the breast.

Although Ms. Li did not experience these obvious skin changes, her story reminds us that it is crucial to pay attention to every subtle change in the breast skin.

3. Nipple discharge: a dangerous sign during non-lactation period

Under normal circumstances, women's breasts will secrete milk during lactation.

However, nipple discharge, especially bloody discharge, that occurs during the non-lactation period should be taken seriously.

This is often one of the signals of lesions in the breast duct and may be an early manifestation of breast cancer.

Although Ms. Li did not experience any symptoms of nipple discharge, her story reminds us that any nipple discharge during the non-breastfeeding period may be an alarm signal from the body and requires prompt medical examination.

4. Swelling of axillary lymph nodes: the way cancer cells spread

As breast cancer cells grow, they may metastasize to the axillary lymph nodes through the lymphatic vessels, causing lymph node enlargement.

Therefore, when a painless lump is found in the armpit, one should be alert to the possibility of lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.

Ms. Li did not have any symptoms of swollen axillary lymph nodes when she visited the doctor.

But her story reminds us that paying attention to this potential danger sign is important for early detection of breast cancer.

5. Systemic symptoms: additional signals that cannot be ignored

As the disease progresses, breast cancer patients may also experience some systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and weight loss.

Although these symptoms are not specific to breast cancer, they may also indicate worsening or metastasis of the disease.

Therefore, when women experience these symptoms, they should comprehensively consider whether it is related to breast health and seek medical attention in time to rule out potential risk factors.

Ms. Li's road to rebirth: from despair to hope

Faced with the blow of breast cancer, Ms. Li once fell into the abyss of despair.

However, with the support of her family and the encouragement of her doctors, she gradually cheered up and actively cooperated with the treatment.

After a series of comprehensive treatment measures including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, Ms. Li's condition was effectively controlled and she gradually recovered.

During this process, she deeply realized the importance of paying attention to breast health and the significance of early detection and treatment in improving survival rate and quality of life.

Protecting breast health: our shared responsibility

Breast cancer is a common female malignant tumor, and its incidence rate is increasing year by year and is becoming younger.

Therefore, protecting breast health is not only the personal responsibility of women but also the common responsibility of the whole society.

As a doctor, I urge women to enhance their awareness of breast health and conduct regular breast examinations, including breast self-examinations and medical examinations.

At the same time, we should pay attention to maintaining good living habits and mentality and avoid excessive fatigue and mood swings to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

In addition, all sectors of society should increase their support for breast cancer prevention and treatment, improve breast cancer screening and diagnosis and treatment, and provide breast cancer patients with better-quality and more efficient medical services.

Conclusion: Let love and health go hand in hand

Ms. Li's story makes us deeply realize the importance of paying attention to breast health and the importance of early detection and treatment in improving survival rate and quality of life. Let us work together to pay attention to breast health and be alert to those subtle signals that may indicate cancer cell invasion and jointly protect our health and happiness.