What changes occur in the breasts of breast cancer patients

In addition to the general cancer symptoms of weight loss, fatigue, weakness, low fever, and poor appetite, breast cancer patients may also have the following symptoms, which are mainly breast changes.

Breast lumps More than 80% of breast cancer patients first discover a lump in their breast, and patients often feel the lump accidentally. The lump is usually single, feels hard, has a not-so-smooth surface, has unclear and irregular edges, and is often adhered to the skin. The breast skin may appear concave, like a "dimple", so it is called the "dimple sign"; some patients' breast skin becomes like orange peel, also known as the "orange peel sign".

Breast pain Most breast cancer lumps are painless, but a few may have varying degrees of dull pain or tingling.

Nipple abnormalities may cause nipple discharge. If a non-pregnant woman has blood, serous fluid, pore juice, or pus flowing out of her nipple, or if breastfeeding has stopped for more than half a year, this is called nipple discharge. About 5% of breast cancer patients have bloody nipple discharge. Tumor enlargement can cause the nipple to retract or rise. A type of breast cancer called nipple eczematoid carcinoma can manifest as itching, erosion, ulceration, crusting, and desquamation of the nipple skin, accompanied by burning pain and nipple retraction.

Swollen axillary lymph nodes During physical examinations, breast cancer patients can feel swollen lymph nodes in their axilla. A few breast cancer patients do not feel breast lumps at first, but first find swollen axillary lymph nodes on the side with breast cancer. In the late stage of breast cancer, metastatic lymph nodes can also be felt above the clavicle and in the opposite axilla.

The above conditions are typical manifestations of breast cancer patients, some of which are manifestations of advanced patients. Not every patient has all of the above manifestations.