4 Ways to Recognize Breast Cancer

1. Abnormality in a Mammogram
Don't delay or neglect your mammogram! The earliest sign of breast cancer can show up on a mammogram before you see or feel any change in your breast. You can't rely only on your doctor's breast exam or even your own self-exam. You need a mammogram to detect changes that sometimes even your doctor can't see or feel. Sometimes the tumor is so small it can't be felt but it can be found through a mammogram. As the tumor begins to grow, some symptoms will become more noticeable. But the key is to be familiar with your breasts. Do your self-exams regularly and pay attention to the texture, size, feel and appearance of your breasts.

2. Change in Breast Texture
While you might feel uncomfortable getting familiar with your breasts, it's the best way to discover changes in your body. Most doctors' offices have instruction sheets to teach you how to perform a self-check, or you can visit www.y-me.org for more information. It's also important to notice how your body changes around your menstrual cycle. Sometimes your breasts may feel tender or you might notice more lumpiness. These changes are usually cyclical and will come and go with your period.(Pain or tenderness of the breasts associated with your period is generally not a sign of breast cancer. Unusual pain should be reported to your doctor.) Get familiar with how your body changes with your cycle so that you will have a standard for what is normal. A lump, thickening or dimpling of the breast could be a sign of breast cancer and you should see a doctor immediately. A good rule of thumb is that any lump in your breast should not be ignored.

3. Breast Skin Changes
Skin irritation or scaliness on your breasts can be a sign of breast cancer. You may notice unusual itching or swelling around your underarm where you lymph nodes are located. Inverted or distorted nipples also may be a sign of breast cancer. If you notice any of these changes, see a doctor.

4. Nipple Discharge
If you find nipple discharge of any kind call your doctor, especially if the discharge is persistent. For some women, a milky discharge in both breasts is normal and can result from hormone changes or menstruation. The color of this discharge can vary for different women but it usually occurs in both breasts. An unusual discharge usually found in only one breast can be a sign of breast cancer if it presents itself out of the blue without any pressure or squeezing of the nipple. A bloody discharge should be checked out immediately by your doctor.
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Why Do Girls' Breasts Get Bigger?

There are two main factors that influence the growth of breasts: nutrition and genetics. Breast growth happens during puberty. The pubertal hormones produced by the pituitary gland (located in the brain and responsible for producing a variety of hormones), play a critical role. One of the earliest signs that puberty has begun is enlargement of the breasts as a result of increased production of ovarian estrogen stimulated by these pituitary hormones. Boys also often experience breast enlargement during the early stages of their pubertal growth spurt, but their breasts usually shrink in size after one or two years. As long as estrogen continues to be secreted in females, breasts will grow and/or maintain their size. Breasts may also enlarge slightly in women taking birth control pills or, after menopause, estrogen-replacement pills. Naturally, breasts enlarge during pregnancy as a result of marked increase in estrogen secretion. Girls with poor diets and weight loss may notice that their breasts get smaller.

When Should A Girl’s Breasts Start Growing?
Girls often worry when they notice that their friends' breasts are enlarging and theirs are not. It is important to understand that there is a lot of variation in the normal timing of breast growth. For example, it is normal for breasts to start growing as early as nine years of age and it is also normal if they do not begin to grow until 14 years of age. In general, a girl will experience breast growth within one year of the time her mother first noticed her own breasts growing. Timing is even closer among sisters, so it may be very interesting and helpful to discuss this with them. However, since nutrition, exercise and health affect hormone levels, timing breast growth according to family history provides only a rough guess.

Another thing that girls should know about breast growth is that both breasts may develop at different times. This should not be cause for worry because breasts are usually even by the time they're fully grown, which can take a few years.

How Big Should Breasts Be?
We all come in different sizes. Some of us are tall and some short. Similarly, some girls have large, medium or small breasts. Nonetheless, many girls are unhappy because they think their breasts are too small or large. Attitudes about breast size are often influenced by fashions. For example, when it became fashionable to look thin in the 1960s, smaller breasts were desirable. With the arrival of the Wonder Bra, it became fashionable to have larger breasts.

From a health perspective, there is no ideal breast size. Breast size bears no relationship to breast cancer or ability to nurse an infant. There are surgical procedures available to increase or decrease the size of breasts, although these are major operations that should not be entered into without considerable thought and extensive information. Consider padded bras, which are safer alternatives for those who want their breasts to appear larger. Also remember as your breasts continue to grow, especially during puberty and pregnancy, improved nutrition may contribute to increased breast volume.

Can Teenage Girls Get Breast Cancer?
Yes, although it is rare during adolescence. On the other hand, breast lumps are common at this time of life. This apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that teenagers often get cysts or tumors in their breasts that are not cancerous which result from sensitivity to estrogen. Most of the time, these lumps will disappear on their own, but it is always a good idea to have them checked by a doctor.

When a lump is found, doctors will usually wait up to three menstrual cycles before taking any action, as they most likely will disappear. Mammograms, which are x-rays of the breasts, are not generally helpful in teenagers. Teenagers often learn breast self-examination techniques when they visit the gynecologist so this will become a health habit by the time they reach their fifties when their chance of breast cancer increases. Use of birth control pills does not increase the risk of breast cancer during adolescence and, in fact, has been shown to lower the risk of developing noncancerous breast tumors.

Is It Normal For There To Be Discharge Coming Out Of My Breasts?
The nipple is the exit point of numerous tiny ducts that lead from the interior of the breast where glands produce milk. Therefore, the most common discharge occurs when these glands are stimulated, as is true at the time of delivery of a baby. As long as sucking continues, milk will be produced and discharged through the nipple. Interestingly, vigorous rubbing of the nipple can also cause a discharge of milk. If the discharge is bloody or pus-like, it may indicate a rare but serious condition like infection or a tumor. Similarly, absence of menses associated with a nipple discharge may indicate a tumor of the pituitary gland or may result from certain medications. Obviously, a physician should be consulted whenever there is a nipple discharge in order to figure out its cause.
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