When it comes to breast cancer, most of us know what we are supposed to do: check for a lump. But a lump is not the only possible warning sign.

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Luvuyo Maloka from digital health platform Unu Health says breast cancer awareness is often reduced to feeling for a lump, but there is more to being breast aware than that. She says that knowing what is normal for your body means you are more likely to notice when something changes. This can be whether that change is a lump or something you can see rather than feel.

Changes in the appearance of the breast, skin or nipple can also warrant medical attention, yet they may be easier to overlook or dismiss.

According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), possible signs of breast cancer can include a thickening or lump in the breast or underarm, but also changes in the size or shape of the breast, dimpling or puckering of the skin. Other signs could be an inverted nipple, unusual nipple discharge, or skin that becomes scaly, red, swollen or develops an orange-peel appearance. Some women may also experience breast or underarm tenderness, a rash or swelling.

Breast cancer signs we shouldn’t ignore

This does not mean that experiencing one of these changes means you have breast cancer. Many breast changes have other causes. The important point is not to try to diagnose yourself, but to recognise when something is different from what is normal for you and have it assessed by a healthcare professional.

“It’s very easy to tell ourselves that a change is probably nothing, particularly if there is no pain or obvious lump,” says Maloka. “But you don’t have to know what the change means. You simply need to know that it is different and worth asking a healthcare professional about.”

READ MORE: About Unu Health

And while Breast Cancer Awareness Month quite rightly places the focus on women’s health, men need to know the signs too.

Men can get breast cancer too

And yes, men can get breast cancer too. It is a message that can sometimes get lost during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: men can develop breast cancer too. Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for around 1% of all breast cancers, according to CANSA. The signs can be like those experienced by women. Men should watch for a lump or swelling in the chest or armpit, or changes in the size or shape of the chest.

They can also look for nipple discharge, a nipple that turns inward, a rash or changes to the skin, or sores around the nipple or chest. The fact that it is uncommon can make it easier for men to dismiss a change or assume breast cancer is something they do not need to think about. But unusual changes should still be checked.

“Breast cancer may be much less common in men, but rare doesn’t mean impossible,” says Maloka. “The same principle applies to everyone: if something changes and it isn’t normal for you, don’t ignore it simply because you don’t think it could happen to you.”

Accessible healthcare can play an important role

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about more than remembering to check for lumps. It is about knowing what your breasts or chest normally look and feel like and being alert to changes. That awareness should also extend to the armpit and the area around the nipple. Checking regularly can help people become familiar with what is normal for them, making it easier to identify something that has changed. And if something does change, the next step should not be an internet search or a wait-and-see approach. It should be a conversation with a healthcare professional.

This is where accessible healthcare can play an important role. Digital healthcare platforms give people access to doctors through online consultations, making it possible to discuss a symptom or concern without necessarily having to navigate the traditional healthcare system first. “Healthcare shouldn’t be about trying to work out what is wrong with you on your own,” says Maloka. “It should be about having somewhere to turn when you have a question or notice something that doesn’t feel right.”

Digital healthcare platforms

This October, perhaps the most useful thing we can do is move beyond the one symptom we have all been taught to look for. Know the lump, know the skin changes, know the nipple changes. Know what is normal for you, and remember that men need to know these signs too. Because when it comes to breast cancer, awareness isn’t simply about knowing that it exists. It is about knowing what to look for. It’s also about knowing when it’s time to ask for help.

This October, perhaps the most useful thing we can do is move beyond the one symptom we have all been taught to look for. Know the lump, know the skin changes, know the nipple changes, know what is normal for you, and remember that men need to know these signs too. Because when it comes to breast cancer, awareness isn’t simply about knowing that it exists. It is about knowing what to look for — and knowing when it is time to ask for help.