The disease of breast can be described as benign (not cancerous) and malignant (cancerous). Benign Breast Disease includes conditions like fibroadenoma, breast cysts, fibrocystic disease, cyclical mastalgia (breast pain), breast abscess, granulomatous mastitis, etc.
However, breast malignancies depending on their stage can be classified as:
Operable Breast Cancer – This describes cancer that is confined to the breast and/or the lymph glands in the arm pit (axilla) on the same side of the body
Locally Advanced Breast Cancer – An invasive cancer that may be large or have spread to several lymphnodes in the armpit (axilla) or other areas near breast, or have spread to other tissues around the breast such as skin, muscle or ribs
Metastatic Breast Cancer – This is the most advanced stage of breast cancer where the cancer cells have spread past the breast and axillary lymphnodes to other areas of the body (like bone, lungs, liver or brain) and continue to grow and multiply in these affected organs
Warning signs
Painless lump in breast
Bloody nipple discharge/ flaking nipple
Appearance changes (redness of breast, retraction if nipple, asymmetric swelling of breasts)