When it comes to detecting breast cancer, it's important to remember that no two people are exactly the same. What's normal for one person may not be for another. Many women say their breasts feel lumpy or uneven and factors such as menstruation, childbirth, weight changes and certain medications can affect the appearance and feel of your breasts. Additionally, breasts tend to change with age. Knowing what is normal for you is key to detecting breast cancer symptoms early.
By performing monthly breast self-exams, you'll become more familiar with your breasts and can more easily spot any unusual changes. It's also important to remember that regular mammograms, as your healthcare provider recommends, are an essential part of breast health. If you notice anything unusual, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
The signs of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women. These may include a painless lump or thickened area in the breast tissue, skin changes over the breast like dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling, changes in the nipple such as redness or scaling, a nipple that starts to turn inward, and nipple discharge.
A breast lump can happen for many reasons, including harmless conditions or something more serious. Some common causes are fibroadenoma, a noncancerous lump that feels rubbery and can move, often found in young women; breast cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs that might be painful or hard to notice and often change with a woman’s period; and breast abscesses, a collection of pus in the breast tissue. An abscess is a common complication of a mastitis, an infection in the breast tissue that typically occurs in breastfeeding women. Mastitis can make the breast red, warm and sore. Hormonal changes during a menstrual cycle can also cause lumps. Even though most breast lumps are harmless, it's important to see a doctor, especially after menopause.
If you have a lump or are experiencing another symptom that doesn’t feel normal for you, call your doctor right away.
You may need tests, such as a diagnostic mammogram or breast ultrasound, to help determine what’s causing the symptoms. These and other tests for breast cancer can help identify breast cancer regardless of symptoms, which means you can start treatment as soon as possible.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, behind skin cancer. With regular screening, the condition can be identified early before symptoms appear. Most women should begin annual screening mammograms at age 40, but some women who have a higher risk may need them earlier or more frequently than once per year.
Some women have a higher-than-average risk for breast cancer. For those women, relying on symptoms could mean that cancer goes undetected for too long. They may benefit from earlier or more frequent breast cancer screenings or from genetic testing that can tell them if they have inherited gene mutations that put them at risk.
Talk to your primary care physician or OBGYN about screening or genetic testing if you:
We help you get care at a location that fits your needs. Several of our locations in North and Central Texas offer mammograms to detect breast cancer before you have symptoms.
1250 8th Ave Ste 650, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
1250 8th Ave Ste 650, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Not accepting walk-ins
6100 Harris Pkwy Ste 260, Fort Worth, TX, 76132
6100 Harris Pkwy Ste 260, Fort Worth, TX, 76132
Not accepting walk-ins
5251 US 290 Ste 100, Austin, TX, 78735
5251 US 290 Ste 100, Austin, TX, 78735
Not accepting walk-ins
300A University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
300A University Blvd , Round Rock, TX, 78665
Not accepting walk-ins
3410 Worth St , Dallas, TX, 75246
3410 Worth St , Dallas, TX, 75246
Accepting walk-ins
310 E Hwy 67 , Duncanville, TX, 75137
310 E Hwy 67 , Duncanville, TX, 75137
Not accepting walk-ins
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 120, Irving, TX, 75061
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 120, Irving, TX, 75061
Not accepting walk-ins
2380 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
2380 N Interstate 35E , Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Not accepting walk-ins
7600 Better Way , Frisco, TX, 75033
7600 Better Way , Frisco, TX, 75033
Accepting walk-ins
2727 E Lemmon Ave , Dallas, TX, 75204
2727 E Lemmon Ave , Dallas, TX, 75204
Accepting walk-ins
800 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
800 W State Hwy 71 , Marble Falls, TX, 78654
Accepting walk-ins
1056 Texan Trl , Grapevine, TX, 76051
1056 Texan Trl , Grapevine, TX, 76051
Not accepting walk-ins
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
2401 S 31st St , Temple, TX, 76508
Not accepting walk-ins
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 250, Irving, TX, 75061
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 250, Irving, TX, 75061
Not accepting walk-ins
440 W Lyndon B Johnson Fwy Plaza II, Ste 120A, Irving, TX, 75063
440 W Lyndon B Johnson Fwy Plaza II, Ste 120A, Irving, TX, 75063
Not accepting walk-ins
5236 W University Dr Ste 2500, McKinney, TX, 75071
5236 W University Dr Ste 2500, McKinney, TX, 75071
Not accepting walk-ins
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 100, Plano, TX, 75093
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 100, Plano, TX, 75093
Not accepting walk-ins
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246
3500 Gaston Ave , Dallas, TX, 75246
Accepting walk-ins
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 130, Grapevine, TX, 76051
1631 Lancaster Dr Ste 130, Grapevine, TX, 76051
Not accepting walk-ins
