Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer, taking the lives of approximately 40.000 women every year. It is estimated that more than 246.000 new women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the end of this year, only in the US!
If you have breast cancer, it is best to find it at an early stage, when the chances of survival are highest.
The warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women. The most common signs are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge.
Although the most common signs appear on the breasts, sometimes our body can send signals in a completely different way. For example, these 5 warning signs of breast cancer have nothing to do with the breasts themselves.
1. A NEW MOLE/ CHANGE IN EXISTING MOLE
You’re probably thinking that this is a sign of skin cancer, but researches proved that women that have moles have a 13% higher chance of developing breast cancer compared to the women without moles. In the study, they followed more than 89.000 women over the course of 18 years and approximately 6.000 of them were diagnosed with breast cancer during the trial. It was found that those 6.000 women had more moles compared to the other 83.000 cancer-free women.
2. CHANGES IN THE BLADDER OR BOWELS
Breast cancer can cause hormonal imbalances that dry out the urethra, causing incontinence – a loss of bladder control. Symptoms of incontinence include: urination that takes longer than usual, leaking when you’re coughing or laughing and sudden urge to urinate while you’re exercising or sneezing.
3. FATIGUE
Although fatigue can be a symptom of several diseases, it’s likely that breast cancer patients will experience it more than others. It’s because the cancer creates chemical imbalances in the body, causing the person to feel tired even when they’ve slept well. Other signs include: high levels of distress, depression, unrelated amount of exertion, sleep disturbance and pain.
4. A COUGH OR HOARSE THROAT THAT WON`T SUBSIDE
In most cases, the cancer spreads from one area to another, causing another tumor to develop. This is the case with 60-70% of breast cancer patients, which have the breast cancer spread to their lungs. Dry cough, shortness of breath and hoarseness indicate that a secondary cancer may have appeared.
5. UNEXPLAINED BACK PAIN
Back pain can be caused by many things, but it can also be a sign of breast cancer. So, if you’re experiencing pressure on the ribs or spine or pain in the upper back, you should consult with your doctor and get checked for breast cancer.