Early Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Female


The earlier the signs and characteristics of early stage breast cancer are identified, the easier the cancer cells will be removed from the body. Stage zero cancer cells, usually do not show any signs or characteristics. However, you can already recognize the characteristics of stage one breast cancer.

The most common characteristics of breast cancer are the appearance of a lump in the breast. Unfortunately, not only is cancer the only abnormality in the breast that can be detected by the presence or absence of a lump. This is because a lump in the breast can be triggered by hormonal changes in adolescents to damage to fat tissue. Then, what are the characteristics of breast cancer lumps?

Generally, the characteristics of a breast cancer lump will appear to have a hard texture with unclear borders and an uneven surface. Lumps also continue to stay 8 to 10 days after menstruation. If the lump is close to the nipple, it will be seen that the nipple is pulled in and is rather difficult to move (sticky).

In addition to the appearance of lumps, the signs and characteristics of early-stage breast cancer that you can recognize are:

  • Change in size, shape, or appearance of the breast.
  • Shape changes in the nipple.
  • Pain in the breast that never goes away, even when you have entered the menstrual period the following month. Even so, some women also experience no pain or pain in their breasts.
  • The nipples emit clear, brown, or yellow liquid.
  • The nipples suddenly turn red and swollen without knowing the cause.
  • Swelling around the armpit caused by enlarged lymph nodes in the area.
  • Venous veins are seen in the breast, as a result the veins in the breast are clearly visible.
  • At an advanced stage begins to appear abnormalities in the skin of the breast (such as orange skin or reddish skin), sometimes the skin also becomes stifled like a dimple because it is attracted by a lump.


If you experience or suspect one of the symptoms and characteristics of early stage breast cancer as mentioned above, you should immediately see a doctor.

This is done so that you get the right treatment according to your condition. By being responsive to the characteristics of early-stage breast cancer, your chances of getting better from this disease are getting bigger.

Various causes of breast cancer

Actually, until now researchers have not been able to know exactly what causes breast cancer.

Like other cancers, breast cancer is a condition when certain cells grow abnormally and cannot be controlled. Over time, these cancer cells will attack the closest healthy breast tissue and eventually spread throughout the body.

Furthermore, researchers have succeeded in finding several genes that, if mutated, will potentially affect the development of breast cancer. These mutation genes are cancer 1 gene (BRCA1) and cancer gene 2 (BRCA2).

Both of these genes are found in approximately 10 percent of the population of patients with breast cancer. Even so, even with the presence of mutation genes, experts still cannot determine the causes of additional biochemical interactions needed in the development of breast cancer cells.

In addition to gene mutations, the researchers also agreed that a person's medical history or lifestyle could increase the risk of breast cancer. Some risk factors that may be the cause of breast cancer are:

1. Gender

Women are 100 times more often diagnosed with breast cancer than men. This is because of the influence of female sex hormones, especially estrogen and progestron. In some cases of breast cancer, these two hormones act as triggers for cell growth and division.

The risk of this cancer will generally increase due to breast cells that are often exposed to exposure to these two hormones during the menstrual cycle. In addition, women who experience early menstruation (before 12 years), menopause after 55 years, and having large breasts are also at high risk for breast cancer.

2. Age

According to the American Cancer Society study, more than two-thirds of breast cancer cases are found in women aged 55 years and over. Only one-eighth of the female population was found to have breast cancer at less than 45 years of age.

3. Family medical history

Another risk factor that has the potential to cause breast cancer is a family medical history. Women are at higher risk of developing breast cancer if they have a direct blood relationship with someone who is diagnosed with breast cancer, such as a mother, sister, or child.

4. Genetic

According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the genetic mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA, so far are the most common causes of hereditary breast cancer.

BRCA1 mutations generally only affect the risk of breast cancer in women, but BRCA2 mutations contribute to risk factors for breast cancer in both women and men. Other genes that have roles in hereditary breast cancer are ATM, p53, CHEK2, PTEN, and CDH1.

5. Certain ethnicities

One of the other causes of breast cancer is ethnicity. European women are considered more vulnerable to breast cancer. Even so, African-American women have a very small chance of survival to survive this disease. Breast cancer is also the leading cause of death in Hispanic women.

In Indonesia, breast cancer ranks first in the cause of death in women, beating a number of other types of cancer. The death rate from breast cancer in women reached 21.4 percent based on the Cancer Mortality Profile data released by WHO in 2014.

6. Lifestyle factors

Apart from the various causes of breast cancer mentioned above, some lifestyle habits also indirectly contribute to breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, lifestyles that can increase the risk of breast cancer include:

  • Obesity or being overweight
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Do not have children
  • Having the first child after 35 years old
  • Take birth control pills
  • Use hormone replacement therapy

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