Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.
The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it's found and treated early. A mammogram — the screening test for breast cancer — can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of finding breast cancer early.
Early warning signs of breast cancer
Symptoms of breast tumors vary from person to person. Some common, early warning signs of breast cancer include:
Skin changes, such as swelling, redness, or other visible differences in one or both breasts
An increase in size or change in shape of the breast(s)
Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples
Nipple discharge other than breast milk
General pain in/on any part of the breast
Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast
Symptoms more specific to invasive breast cancer are:
Irritated or itchy breasts
Change in breast color
Increase in breast size or shape (over a short period of time)
Changes in touch (may feel hard, tender or warm)
Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin
A breast lump or thickening
Redness or pitting of the breast skin (like the skin of an orange)
For more information and to find out how you can spread awareness, visit these websites: