What are the symptoms of breast diseases?
Disease description:
Recently, I went to the hospital for a checkup and was diagnosed with a breast condition. Could you please tell me, what are the symptoms of breast disease?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
Breast diseases are a general term for a group of diseases involving structural and functional abnormalities of the breast. These diseases present with various symptoms, which can be summarized as follows:
1. Breast lumps: This is one of the most common symptoms of breast disease. Lumps can be palpated, vary in size, and may feel either hard or soft, sometimes accompanied by tenderness. The location, size, and shape of the lumps may change with the menstrual cycle. A single, hard, poorly mobile, and rapidly growing lump within the breast may indicate breast cancer.
2. Nipple discharge: If women experience nipple discharge outside of lactation, especially bloody discharge, it should be taken seriously, as it may be a sign of breast disease.
3. Breast pain: Pain may manifest as varying degrees of dull or distending pain, possibly accompanied by breast swelling and nipple sensitivity. Distending or throbbing pain occurring during lactation, along with redness, swelling, and fever, is often indicative of mastitis. Pain associated with the menstrual cycle and emotional changes may suggest fibrocystic breast changes.
4. Skin changes: Signs such as breast skin indentation, an orange peel-like appearance (where the skin looks uneven like an orange peel), redness, swelling, warmth, and pain may all be external manifestations of breast disease.
