Breast cancer can cause various symptoms that can depend on the type and the part of the breast affected. The types of breast cancer are usually based on how the cancer cells will look under a microscope. These symptoms and types of breast cancer help determine the course of treatment and prognosis for a patient. Mentioned below what you need to know about them.

Common symptoms of breast cancer
In some cases of breast cancer, there might not be any symptoms of the condition. However, the presence of a mass can be easily seen by a doctor with the help of a mammogram. The most common symptom associated with breast cancer is the fining of a lump in the breast. However, there are other potential symptoms of the condition that can occur without having a noticeable breast lump. These can include the following:

• Skin texture changes
  Breast cancer can affect the skin cells and cause inflammation and changes. This changes the skin’s texture. These changes can be in the form of:
  • The appearance of scales around the nipples and areola. The skin will look like it suffers sunburns or has become extremely dry
  • Thickening of the breast skin
• Discharge from the nipple
  Discharge from the nipple can be another common symptom of breast cancer. The discharge can be thick or thin in consistency and can be red, milky, green, or yellow. Milky nipple discharge in common in breastfeeding females. But any nipple discharge other than this should be brought to the attention of a doctor immediately. In most cases, discharge from the nipple can be non-cancerous. However, it can be a symptom of breast cancer in many people.
• Dimpling on the skin
  This can be a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer, which is an advanced type of breast cancer. When there is a buildup of lymph fluid due to cancer cells’ presence, it can cause dimpling on the breasts. Any presence of dimples on the breasts should be brought to the notice of a doctor immediately.

Types of breast cancer
Two common types of breast cancer are diagnosed based on how the cells appear under a microscope. The common types include:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS
  In this type, the cancer cells are limited to the milk duct linings and do not affect the breast tissues. If the condition is left untreated at this stage, it can spread and start affecting the nearby tissues.
• Invasive ductal carcinoma or IDC
  In this type, cancer begins in the milk ducts and affects the fatty tissue present outside the milk ducts. This type of breast cancer is found in around 80 percent of cases of invasive breast cancer.

These were the common symptoms and types of breast cancer. If you notice any signs of breast cancer mentioned above, we recommend seeking medical consultation immediately for timely diagnosis and treatment.