Skin Disease of the Nipple. A reddened or itching irritation of the skin immediately about the nipple, may have real disease significance. Such an irritation without apparent cause, lasting longer than two weeks, is possibly the “Paget’s Disease,” present in one percent of all breast cancers. It should be examined by the physician immediately.
Discharge from the Nipple. A nipple discharge has definite significance, especially in the post-menopausal years. If the discharge is not blood stained, it is associated with cancer in approximately three percent of the cases but if the discharge is blood-stained, cancer possibilities rise to nearly fifty percent. The physician’s examination is imperative here.
Dimpled Skin. Skin of the breast, with a dimpled orange peel appearance, has great significance in breast disease. If such dimpling follows trauma, such as an automobile accident, it has little meaning, but dimpling of unexplained origin in the over-fifty age group assumes great importance. It is the first sign of trouble in about one percent of breast cancer. This makes necessary the physician’s examination.
Lump in the Breast. A lump, mass or nodule is very important in breast disease and is most often discovered accidentally during
Fig. 40. A breast lump is always significant. While only one out of ten lumps is actually serious, only a physician can advise a proper course of action.
routine bathing and dressing. Though ninety percent of all breast lumps are non-cancerous, the remaining ten percent will be found to be of cancerous nature. Breast lumps should be examined by a physician without delay.
Pain in the Breast. Pain is not importantly related to cancerous disease of the breast. Breast difficulties resulting from menstruation, nursing or menopausal changes are likely to cause breast pain, but cancer is notoriously silent and painless until far advanced, and only 2 percent of all cancers are accompanied by pain. However, in the post-menopausal group, pain combined with breast lump, nipple discharge or skin changes, demands the physician’s examination for correct diagnosis.