Symptoms of female axillary lymphadenopathy and self-examination methods

Many women complain that they can feel lumps under their armpits on both sides or on one side. This is a case of swollen axillary lymph nodes. In the minds of many people, one of the symptoms of breast cancer, a disease that women are terrified of, is the appearance of lymph nodes in the armpits. Therefore, we should be alert when we feel a lump under the armpit.

How to recognize the symptoms of swollen lymph nodes in the armpit

In order to further identify enlarged axillary lymph nodes, female friends need to have a better understanding of the manifestations of this disease. We can identify it from the following aspects:

1. Although some early breast cancer patients cannot feel a clear lump in the breast, they often have local discomfort, especially postmenopausal women. Sometimes they feel mild pain and discomfort in one breast, or heaviness, soreness and discomfort in one shoulder and back, and even involve the upper arm on that side.

2. In the early stage, a bean-sized lump can be felt in the breast, which is hard and movable. There is generally no obvious pain, and a few have paroxysmal dull pain, dull pain or stabbing pain.

3. Changes in breast appearance: The skin at the site of the lump may be seen to be bulging, and some local skin may appear orange peel-like, or even edematous, discolored, or have eczema-like changes.

4. The nipple is retracted near the center. The breast skin has a slight depression (medically known as "dimple syndrome"), nipple erosion, nipple asymmetry, or the breast skin is thickened and coarsened, and the pores are enlarged (medically known as "orange peel syndrome")

5. Nipple discharge: If the discharge is bloody or serous, special attention should be paid to further examination.

6. Regional lymphadenopathy, most commonly in the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes. Supraclavicular lymphadenopathy is already in the late stage.

How to self-check enlarged axillary lymph nodes

Use the touch method and use two to three fingers (do not use the thumb) to carefully touch the area under the armpit where you feel the swollen lymph nodes. When you can actually feel a swollen nodule, go to the hospital for an ultrasound. Tell the doctor where you felt something and let the ultrasound doctor look for it carefully there. If you don't point out where the nodules are, small nodules are generally easy to miss.

suggestion:

1. Feel the breast using the same method. If there are nodules or you feel discomfort in your breast, you should have a breast color ultrasound.

2. Take a chest X-ray.

3. If you are really worried, take a biopsy.