382 Cancer and Growths
Problems of
the Breasts
162
breast examination
117
breast infections
lump
Breast lumps
Breast lumps are very common in
most women, especially soft,
fluid-filled ones (called cysts). These
usually change during a woman’s monthly
cycle, and sometimes feel sore or painful
when pressed. Few breast lumps are
cancer. But since breast cancer is always
a possibility, a woman should try to
examine her breasts for lumps once a
month (see ‘warning signs’ below).
Discharge from the nipple
Milky or clear discharge from one or both nipples is usually
normal if a woman has breastfed a baby within the last year.
Brown, green, or bloody discharge—especially from only one
nipple—could be a sign of cancer. Get checked by a
health worker who can examine your breasts.
Breast infection
If a woman is breastfeeding a baby and
gets a hot, red sore area on the breast, she
probably has mastitis, or an abscess. This is
not cancer and is easily cured. If the woman
is not breastfeeding, it may be a sign of
cancer.
Cancer of the breast
Breast cancer usually grows slowly. If it is found early, it can
sometimes be cured. It is hard to tell who will get breast cancer.
The risk might be greater for a woman whose mother or sisters
have had breast cancer, or for a woman who has had cancer of the
womb. Breast cancer is more common in women over age 50.
Warning signs:
• a hard painless lump with a jagged shape, that is in only one
breast and does not move under the skin
• redness, or a sore on the breast that does not heal
• skin on the breast that is pulled in, or looks rough and pitted,
like orange or lemon peel
• a nipple that changes and becomes pulled inward
• abnormal discharge from a nipple
• sometimes, a painful swelling under the arm
• rarely, pain in the breast
If there is one or more of these signs, get help from a trained
health worker right away.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012