What are the signs and symptoms of locally advanced breast cancer?
Signs of locally advanced breast cancer may include:
- skin that is thickened and looks dimpled like an orange peel
- ulcers on the skin of the breast
- a lump in the breast that doesn’t move freely but feels attached to the chest wall
- a large red, swollen breast (this is called inflammatory breast cancer)
- a lump in the armpit which is large and may not move freely away from the chest wall
- a lump at the base of the neck.
How is locally advanced breast cancer diagnosed?
The first step in investigating any breast change is for the doctor to take a medical history and do a physical examination of both breasts. Locally advanced breast cancer is often diagnosed by physical examination.
A number of tests will then be done to confirm the diagnosis and to check whether the cancer has spread. These usually include:
- an ultrasound of both breasts and a mammogram (an X-ray of the breast) if possible
- removal of cells or tissue from the breast, lymph nodes and any other abnormal areas for examination under a microscope; this is called a biopsy and may be done under a local or general anaesthetic
- tests to check whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, which may include blood tests, bone scans, ultrasounds or CT scans; this is known as ‘staging’ and the results will affect the types of treatment recommended.
The results of the biopsy are recorded on a pathology report. You may find it useful to keep a copy of the pathology report and other test results so that you can refer to them in the future.
