Cervical Cancer, Different Treatments and Importance of Bile Acids as Therapeutic Agents in This Disease

What To Know About Breast Cancer Dimpling

Dimpling of breast tissue may indicate inflammatory breast cancer, an invasive type of breast cancer. Breast cancer dimpling is also called peau d'orange.

Cancer is not the only reason why dimpling occurs in the breast tissue. If the breast also appears red and feels warm, it may indicate cancer that needs urgent treatment. This redness may be harder to see in darker skin tones.

Regularly examining the breasts can help an individual notice any symptoms if they occur. These can include changes in texture and color.

Read on to learn more about breast cancer dimpling. This article examines what causes dimpling, how to find it, diagnosis, treatments, and more.

Also known as peau d'orange, dimpling of the breast causes the skin to look like the pitting and uneven skin of an orange. Sometimes, the skin can also be red and inflamed, though the redness may be difficult to see on darker skin.

The area around the breast, nipple, or areola may appear red, scaly, or swollen. Thickening of tissue can affect breast tissue or the area near the underarm.

Dimpling of the breast tissue can be a sign of a serious form of cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer. With inflammatory breast cancer, there may not be a lump.

If dimpling is a sign of breast cancer, it tends to occur in only one breast. If dimpling affects both breasts, the person probably does not have breast cancer.

View the slideshow below for photos of breast dimpling.

Dimpling can occur with inflammatory breast cancer due to the buildup of fluid in the tissues of the breast. It can cause the skin to thicken, which can result in pitting or an "orange peel" appearance.

Symptoms occur when cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin. This can cause the breasts to look inflamed.

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer. It accounts for around 1% to 5% of all breast cancer cases.

Other causes of dimpling

Breast dimpling is not always a sign of breast cancer. Dimpling may also be a symptom of fat necrosis, a condition where the fatty tissue in the breast dies.

Dimpling can occur for various reasons, including breast surgery, a bruise or injury, or as a side effect of a biopsy.

There is no link between fat necrosis and breast cancer.

The only way to find out if dimpling is due to breast cancer or fat necrosis is by having an examination and a breast biopsy with a medical professional.

The easiest way to find dimpling is to look at the breasts. Regularly checking the breasts can help a person know how the breasts usually look and feel. This may make it easier to recognize dimpling and any other changes.

The best time to do it is to take a few minutes when a person is getting dressed or changing clothes.

To check for dimpling, a person can:

examine the tissue covering the breasts and underarm areas

note any changes in the skin, including lumps or changes in texture

feel the breasts to check for lumps, areas of tenderness, or thickening in the breast or under the arms

It is best to check regularly and at all stages of the menstrual cycle to know how the breasts change over time.

A person can also contact their doctor to find out how regularly they recommend breast cancer screening. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every 2 years for people ages 40 to 74 years assigned female at birth.

Learn more about how to perform a breast self-exam.

An individual needs to contact a doctor if they notice dimpling or other changes in the breast tissue.

To find out why the dimpling is there, the doctor may:

perform a clinical breast exam

order further testing, such as a mammogram or ultrasound

recommend a biopsy, depending on the results of the imaging tests

In a biopsy, the doctor takes some tissue from the breast to check for cancerous cells.

If a biopsy shows that cancer is present, the doctor may request further tests, for example, a PET or CT scan, to see if the disease has spread to other places.

Diagnostic criteria for inflammatory breast cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, doctors use the following criteria to help diagnose inflammatory breast cancer:

redness, swelling, and ridged or pitted skin that appears suddenly

redness affecting at least one-third of the breast

warmth in the breast that starts suddenly, either with or without a lump

a biopsy that shows that invasive cancer cells are present

A person's doctor can provide them with more information about any tests they order and what the test results mean.

Learn more about symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer.

If the diagnosis shows inflammatory breast cancer, several treatment options are available. These can depend on the type, stage, and location of the cancer and whether it has spread.

Treatment options may include:

Chemotherapy: This involves using medications that either kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing.

Surgery: A surgeon removes the cancerous tissue or the entire breast.

Radiation: High energy X-rays target cancerous tissue and destroy it.

Hormonal therapy: This can block the activity of certain hormones that encourage the growth of cancerous cells.

Before starting treatment, the doctor will discuss with the individual a plan that offers the best likelihood for long-term survival and best meets their goals and wishes.

This may mean combining two or more different types of treatment, especially if the cancer is an aggressive type.

Here are some frequently asked questions about breast dimpling.

Can you have breast dimpling without cancer?

Breast dimpling does not always mean cancer. It can also occur due to fat necrosis, which refers to the death of fat tissue, usually due to injury. However, if a person notices breast dimpling, they need to contact a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Can breast dimpling look like stretch marks?

Breast dimpling typically looks like orange peel, giving it the name "peau d'orange." Some people may feel that the dimpling has a similar appearance to stretch marks.

Dimpling on the breast can indicate inflammatory breast cancer. As this can look like orange peel, it is also known as peau d'orange.

Breast cancer dimpling can occur when cancer cells block the lymph vessels. Regularly examining the breasts can help a person detect any changes in their appearance or texture.

Breast dimpling does not always indicate breast cancer. It can also occur due to fat necrosis. It is important to contact a doctor as soon as a person notices dimpling so that they can receive an accurate diagnosis.

Read this article in Spanish.

What To Know About Nipple Discharge

Nipple discharge is common and usually not serious, but it may be a symptom of an underlying condition. It's always a good idea to discuss any new discharge with a healthcare professional.

Nipple discharge is any fluid or other liquid that comes out of your nipple. It might come out on its own or only if you squeeze the nipple.

Nipple discharge is common during reproductive years, even if you're not pregnant or nursing. In fact, more than 80% of females experience it at some point in their lives.

Discharge is usually not serious. Still, it can be a sign of breast cancer, so it's worth talking about with a doctor.

Keep reading to learn more about the different types of nipple discharge and when you should talk with your doctor.

Did you know?

Each breast contains about 20 milk ducts, and fluid can leak from them. It's typical for some milk to leak out of your nipple when you're pregnant or lactating.

Nipple discharge comes in many colors. The color may give you some clues about the cause. The chart below lists the discharge colors and possible causes if you're not lactating:

The causes listed are only suggestions. If you notice nipple discharge of any color, you should contact a doctor for a proper diagnosis.

Discharge can also come in several textures, such as thick, thin, or sticky.

Some other symptoms you might have with nipple discharge include:

breast pain or tenderness

lump or swelling in the breast or around the nipple

nipple changes, like turning inward, dimpling, changing color, itching, or scaling

skin changes, such as rash or lesions

redness

breast size changes, such as one breast that's larger or smaller than the other

fever

missed periods

nausea or vomiting

fatigue

Is it okay to squeeze out nipple discharge?

The discharge might come out of just one or both nipples. It can leak out on its own or if you squeeze the nipple. That said, it's not a good idea to squeeze it. This can make any underlying undiagnosed conditions worse. If you leave it alone, the discharge should stop on its own.

When you're pregnant or lactating, small amounts of milk might leak out. The leakage can start early in pregnancy, and you could continue to see milk for up to 2 or 3 years after you stop nursing.

However, you may have discharge even if you're not pregnant or lactating. Other causes of nipple discharge include:

birth control pills

breast infection or abscess

duct papilloma, a harmless wart-like growth in your milk duct

drugs that increase levels of the milk-producing hormone prolactin, such as antidepressants and tranquilizers

excess stimulation of the breast or nipple

fibrocystic breasts

hormone changes during your period or menopause

injury to the breast

mammary duct ectasia, known as a blocked milk duct

prolactinoma, a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland

underactive thyroid gland

breast cancer

Breast cancer can cause nipple discharge, especially ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts. It can also happen with Paget's disease of the breast, a rare type of breast cancer that involves the nipple.

If you do have breast cancer, the discharge will probably come from one breast only. You may have a lump in your breast, too.

Discharge isn't often due to cancer, however. Research on its prevalence is variable, suggesting that cases of nipple discharge turn out to be malignant cancer in about 9% to 21% of cases.

It's still a good idea to get any breast discharge checked out, especially if it's a new symptom for you.

Nipple discharge is usually nothing to worry about. Still, because it can be a sign of breast cancer, it's worth having a doctor check it out. It's especially important to see a doctor if:

You have a lump in your breast.

You have nipple or skin changes, such as crusting or a color change.

You have pain in your breast or other symptoms of breast cancer.

The discharge is bloody.

Only one breast is affected.

The discharge doesn't stop.

In males, it's important to see a doctor if you notice any nipple discharge, as it's uncommon.

Your doctor will start by asking questions about the discharge, including:

When did the discharge start?

Is it in one breast or both?

Does it come out on its own, or do you have to squeeze the nipple to produce it?

What other symptoms do you have?

What medications do you take?

Are you pregnant or nursing?

The doctor will do a clinical exam to check your breasts for lumps or other signs of cancer. You may also have one or more of these tests:

Biopsy: In a biopsy, the doctor removes a small sample of tissue from your breast to check it for cancer.

Mammogram: A mammogram is a test that takes X-ray pictures of your breasts to help a doctor look for cancer.

Ductogram: This test uses mammography and an injected contrast material to display an image of the milk ducts inside your breasts.

Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the inside of your breasts.

Your doctor will also likely do a urine or blood test to find out if you're pregnant.

Once you know what's causing the nipple discharge, you can treat it if necessary. Discharge that's due to pregnancy, breastfeeding or chestfeeding, or hormonal changes may not need to be treated.

Your doctor may treat discharge from other causes based on the condition.

Read this article in Spanish.

What Are The Side Effects Of Radiation For Breast Cancer?

Radiation therapy for breast cancer may cause short-term side effects, including pain, fatigue, or skin changes, or long-term side effects, such as breast changes and nerve damage.

A doctor may recommend radiation therapy for someone with breast cancer in combination with other treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy can use external beam radiation, which involves a doctor applying radiation from an external machine to the breast and surrounding tissue.

Alternatively, radiation therapy can involve internal radiation (brachytherapy), which entails placing a small radioactive pellet into the body for a short period.

Read on for more information about the short-term, long-term, and rare side effects of radiation for breast cancer.

Short-term side effects may occur during the treatment or shortly afterward. The duration may depend on the type and dose of the radiation, but they typically resolve within a few months.

Potential short-term side effects include:

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), less common side effects of breast cancer radiation therapy include:

Brachial plexopathy: Radiation to the breast or chest wall can damage the nerves that run through the arm, wrist, and hand. Nerve damage can cause numbness and tingling, pain, or weakness in the area.

Rib fracture: It is possible for radiation therapy to weaken the ribs, making them more prone to break or fracture.

Lung problems: Radiation can cause lung inflammation. The medical term for this is radiation pneumonitis, and symptoms include shortness of breath, a cough, and a low grade fever, which will go away over time.

Heart problems: If a doctor applies radiation to the left side of the chest, it can cause an irregular heartbeat, heart valve damage, and hardened arteries, which may increase the risk of a heart attack.

Angiosarcoma: Angiosarcoma is a very rare complication of radiation therapy for the breast. It is another type of cancer that may occur 8 to 10 years after the radiation therapy.

However, the ACS notes that modern radiation therapy equipment and procedures have reduced the risk of many of the above complications.

Learn what to expect during radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Generally, the benefits of having radiation therapy for breast cancer outweigh the risks. However, the side effects can be uncomfortable.

Asking friends and family to help with everyday activities during treatment can help a person accommodate some short-term side effects, such as fatigue.

The ACS recommends the following strategies to manage side effects:

getting plenty of rest

speaking with an employer about taking time off, if necessary

wearing loose clothing

avoiding scratching or rubbing the skin

using sun protection when outside

washing with lukewarm water and mild soap

avoiding wearing a bra, or wear a soft, cotton bra without an underwire

A healthcare professional can offer specific management tips for the side effects a person experiences. This may include exercises to manage shoulder stiffness or products to relieve uncomfortable skin changes.

It is crucial to report any side effects to a doctor or nurse, especially if a person is experiencing them for the first time.

Radiation therapy can be a very effective treatment for breast cancer. A person can expect some side effects, but most will be mild and resolve over time.

Communicating any side effects to the medical team is essential to ensure that a person is not experiencing a symptom of something more serious.

If side effects affect a person's quality of life, they need to consult a doctor, who can recommend ways to reduce discomfort.

Radiation therapy may cause side effects that vary according to the duration and type of radiation treatment. Short-term side effects may include fatigue, skin changes, and hair loss in the affected area.

However, some people may also experience long-term side effects or complications, including changes to the breast, a higher risk of rib fractures, and difficulty breastfeeding.

People need to speak with their healthcare team if they experience side effects from radiation therapy. A healthcare team can adjust the treatment plan or suggest management strategies to relieve the side effects.

Read this article in Spanish.

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