Helping You Recognize Signs of Breast Cancer
- Fox Nation host Gerri Willis, 64, was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2016. She first recognized her nipple was inverted, which proved to be a sign of the disease. After undergoing treatment, she was declared “cancer-free”.
- A survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center that asked roughly a thousand women questions about signs of breast cancer found that “93%” knew a lump in the breast can be linked to breast cancer. Still, less than half recognized other signs of breast cancer.
- SurvivorNet experts recommend performing a monthly breast self-exam to look for anything unusual because it can help catch breast cancer.
- Talk to your doctor if you notice one or more of the following symptoms: a new lump in the breast, unusual sagging, new swelling in the breast, changes to the nipple (such as puckering), flaking or redness in the breast, or nipple, discharge (including blood) coming from the nipple and pain in the breast.
When Fox Nation host Gerri Willis, 64, learned she had breast cancer in 2016, she first experienced some unusual symptoms many women may not commonly associate with the disease.
“My right nipple was inverted,” Willis said to Fox Business.
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- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Swelling on all or part of the breast
- Skin dimpling or peeling
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple turning inward
- Redness or scaliness of breast or nipple skin
- Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)
The survey included 1,004 participants. The eye-opening data collected sparks concern among experts because “most breast cancers do not present with a lump that can be detected by touch – and if they do, it often indicates a fast-growing or advanced-stage cancer that is less treatable.”
“Screening mammography is our No. 1 defense in detecting and addressing breast cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages, but it is also very important for people to be familiar with the look and feel of their own breast tissue so that sometimes subtle changes can be evaluated quickly to give us the best chance at early detection,” breast medical oncologist Dr. Ashley Pariser said about the survey.
The survey adds that “31% of survey respondents recognized retracted, inverted or downward-pointing nipple as a symptom of breast cancer,” and less than half knew nipple discharge or loss of breast feeling needed medical attention.
Expert Resources on Breast Cancer Early Detection
- 6 Common Excuses for Skipping a Mammogram That You Need to Stop Using!
- Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer — A Warning About Thermography
- Earlier Mammograms for Black Women May Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality Disparity Rates By 57%; How to Screen for this Disease
- How a Breast Cancer Diagnosis Impacts the Marriages of African American Women; Plus, Tips for Coping
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual like a lump does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
WATCH: Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams.
If you are still unsure about performing a self-breast exam correctly, talk to your doctor so they can walk you through it.
Regular self-breast exams in conjunction with your regular breast cancer screenings with a mammogram help keep you aware of any subtle changes in your breast health.
Since her diagnosis, Gerri Willis has been a staunch advocate for breast cancer screenings and early detection.
For treatment, Willis underwent a bilateral mastectomy of her right breast, four months of chemotherapy, radiation, and breast reconstruction. Less than a year after treatment, her doctors detected no evidence of cancer.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.