A statistic shows that breast cancer has been the most common cancer among American women. North America has also the highest rate breast cancer in the world. Estimation of two hundred thousands of new cases breast cancer will be diagnosed in United States alone. More than forty thousands of women will die of this disease. Like others cancer, breast cancer will also have symptoms to help us diagnose the disease on early stage and get more options of treatment for better chance of cure.

Normally in the early of breast cancer stage, it doesn’t cause any pain. But when you notice these symptoms, do seek advice from your doctor immediately for necessary test and treatments.

Breast cancer symptoms as follow:

• Change in the nipple looks in term of size or shape.
• Change in the nipple feels i.e. feel more tenderness of thickening.
• Bloody nipple discharge

An advice to do breast self-examination on monthly basis will help to detect any early breast cancer. You are also advice to do a mammogram if you are over age 40.

There is an aggressive type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. This cancer develops rapidly. It will make the breast swollen, red & tender. This cancer is not easy to detect as it doesn’t shows any lumps or suspicious area on a routine on the early stage. But still you may see these breast cancer symptoms:

• Thickness or visible enlargement of one breast
• Unusual warmth of the breast
• Pain, tenderness or aching
• Nipple flattening or turning inward
• Nipple swollen or crusted skin
• Change in colour of nipple
• Rapid change in the shape of breast

If you detect any of these inflammatory breast cancer symptoms, seek doctor advice immediately. It is advisable to do a few tests including mammogram, ultrasound and even biopsy.

If your biopsy has proven a breast cancer, you will need to go through treatments such as chemotherapy. This is pre-surgery treatment done to shrink the cancer before any operation.

After went through several chemotherapy, you will have to do an operation to remove the affected breast.

Usually after operation, you are suggested a course of radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cell. It also helps to decrease the chances of the cancer returning.

Sometimes you will required to do a few more chemotherapy to prevent the cancer retuning especially inflammatory breast cancer because it is aggressive and difficult to cure. So seek some support from your family and friends and go through these stages to treatment together.