In China, more than 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer and 1.2 million die of cancer each year. Breast cancer has become the most common cancer among Chinese women, accounting for 12.2% of new cases and 9.6% of deaths worldwide each year. The early symptoms of breast cancer are hidden and not easily detected, and many patients are already in the middle and late stages when they are detected, and the treatment is not effective. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the outcome will be, so women should pay more attention to their breasts on a daily basis. Today, Moonflower Health Guide will tell you about the early symptoms of breast cancer, if these symptoms appear, you should be alert to the possibility of breast cancer. The most common one is that the tumor invades the Cooper’s ligament, which connects the breast skin and the deep pectoral muscle fascia, causing it to shorten and lose its elasticity, pulling the skin of the corresponding area, resulting in the “dimple sign”, that is, a small dimple in the breast skin, like a small dimple. If the cancer cells block the lymphatic ducts, “orange peel-like changes” will appear, i.e. the skin of the breast will have many small dots and depressions, just like an orange peel. In advanced stage of breast cancer, the cancer cells infiltrate into the skin along the lymphatic ducts, glandular ducts or fibrous tissues and grow, forming scattered hard nodules in the skin around the main cancer site, which is called “skin satellite nodules”. Symptom 2: Nipple overflow Breast cancer with overflow in the early stage does not account for much of the total number of breast cancers, and is mostly seen in intraductal carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. Bloody overflow is common, followed by plasma, plasma blood, watery and so on. Breast cancer with overflow as the only symptom is very rare, and most of them are early intraductal carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. Overflow breast cancer is mostly found first with lumps and then with overflow. Symptom 3: Breast lumps 80% of breast cancer patients are first diagnosed with breast lumps. Breast lumps are often found unintentionally and are mostly solitary, hard, with irregular edges and less than smooth surface. Most breast cancer lumps are painless, but only a few are associated with varying degrees of vague pain or stabbing pain. Symptom 4: Abnormal nipple and areola Tumors located in or close to the deep nipple can cause nipple retraction. When the tumor is far from the nipple and the large duct in the breast is invaded and shortened, it may also cause nipple retraction or elevation. Eczema-like carcinoma of the nipple, i.e. Paget’s disease of the breast, manifests as itching, erosion, rupture, crusting, flaking and burning pain of the nipple skin, resulting in nipple retraction. Symptom 5: enlarged axillary lymph nodes More than 1/3 of breast cancer patients admitted to hospitals have axillary lymph node metastasis. Initially, the lymph nodes in the axilla on the same side are swollen, and the swollen lymph nodes are hard, scattered and pushable. As the disease progresses, the lymph nodes will gradually fuse and adhere to the skin and surrounding tissues. In advanced stage, metastatic lymph nodes can be felt in the supraclavicular and contralateral armpits. How to prevent breast cancer? 1. Genetic testing Many patients who develop cancer are unaware of it, and sometimes it can be determined by the choice of genes. First of all, the prevention method of breast cancer can use genetic testing. Some breast cancer patients are caused by mutation of genes, so it is necessary to do a good job of testing for those who carry these genes, there are two major categories, one is having German-Jewish blood, and the other is having a family history of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer. 2. Regular checkups To detect the existence of the disease, then you should pay attention to regular physical checkups in your life. Finally, the prevention method of breast cancer is to have regular checkups, which is also a very important point. If everyone can develop such a habit, then it will reduce the occurrence of many diseases, and for breast cancer disease, breast examination should be conducted at least once every three years, and annual examination and mammogram should be taken after the age of 40. 3. Proper exercise A healthy life also requires proper exercise. Only by doing regular exercise will there be hope for health. Secondly, breast cancer prevention can be done through proper exercise. It is best to set aside five days a week for exercise and insist on at least forty-five minutes, because regular exercise habits can help improve our body’s immunity and also reduce the level of estrogen and insulin in our body, so that breast cancer can be avoided.