It doesn’t matter whether or not your family has a history of breast cancer or if you’re a healthy individual; everyone is at risk of breast cancer—man, woman, black, white, young, and old.
That’s why it’s important to know the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer’s to be able to treat it early.
A now-viral Facebook post, however, illuminates a rare sign of breast cancer that many people are not familiar with.
In Claire Warner’s photo, it shows the underside of her left breast. At first glance, it seems like a normal photo, but on closer inspection, one will be able to see a faint dimple in her skin.
Image source: Facebook / Claire Warner
“This is a picture of my left boob,” the caption reads. “The small purplish bruise is where I had my biopsy taken. The minuscule dimple up and to the left of it is a rare and little known symptom of BREAST CANCER.”
Clair only spotted the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it mark because she saw another friend a similar photo.
“I hope I’m one of the lucky ones,” Claire adds. “I’ve caught it exceptionally early (only thanks to someone else sharing a similar post). And while it’s a nasty bugger, it is one small contained lump and after surgery, chemo, and radiotherapy, I’ve every hope of being cured.”
Claire said that she can’t even feel the lump even now that she knows it’s there. She isn’t in any way ill, and her only symptom is the dimple.
“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check yourself,” she pleads. “(Males as well as females) and get your loved ones to check themselves also.”
Image source: Facebook / Claire Warner
Breast cancer and women
According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.
Despite the scary numbers, the best defence against it is early detection and treatment.
Self-examination to detect breast cancer is no longer recommended by the ACS, however, they still advise women to get to know their own breasts and be aware of what they normally look and feel like.
Image source: iStock
Any changes to one’s breasts must also be immediately reported to their doctor.
Early symptoms of breast cancer:
- Changes in the shape of the nipple
- Breast pain doesn’t go away after your next period
- A new lump that doesn’t go away after your next period
- Nipple discharge from one breast that is clear, red, brown, or yellow
- Unexplained redness, swelling, skin irritation, itchiness, or rash on the breast
- Swelling or a lump around the collarbone or under the arm