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X-Men Fame Olivia Munn Opens Up About Breast Cancer Diagnosis; Here Are The Symptoms To Look Out For
Renowned for her captivating performances in blockbusters like "X-Men: Apocalypse" and the critically acclaimed series "The Newsroom," Olivia Munn recently opened up about her personal struggle with breast cancer. Her courageous decision to share her journey underscores the critical importance of early detection, risk assessment, and understanding the complexities of breast cancer. Here's a comprehensive exploration of the significance of recognizing symptoms, assessing risks, and taking proactive steps towards prevention.
Munn's breast cancer diagnosis stemmed from a pivotal breast cancer risk assessment tool, which unveiled a significant lifetime risk of 37%. Despite receiving a clean bill of health from a routine mammogram, this assessment prompted further investigations that ultimately led to her diagnosis. Such risk assessment tools play a vital role in predicting the likelihood of breast cancer development over time, empowering both healthcare professionals and patients to take proactive measures in their health journey.
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Understanding Breast Cancer: A Complex RealityAs per Dr Harshit Shah, Associate Consultant-Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan, breast cancer stands as one of the most prevalent forms of cancer globally, characterized by abnormal cell growth in breast tissue. It transcends gender boundaries, affecting individuals of all backgrounds. Early detection remains paramount, significantly improving treatment outcomes. Recognizing common symptoms, understanding risk factors, and prioritizing regular screenings are fundamental steps in combating this formidable disease.
Identifying Symptoms and Prompt ActionSymptoms of breast cancer can manifest in various ways, including the presence of lumps, alterations in breast appearance, abnormal nipple changes, and skin irregularities. Prompt reporting of any changes to a healthcare professional, regardless of recent mammogram results, is imperative. Timely intervention facilitates not only effective treatment but also enhances survival rates, highlighting the importance of proactive action in managing breast health.
Also Read: 'Bachelor' Star Joey Graziadei Reveals Gilbert Syndrome Diagnosis; Here's Everything To Know About It
Unravelling Causes and Risk FactorsWhile the precise cause of breast cancer remains elusive, several factors contribute to increased susceptibility. These encompass a spectrum of elements, including familial history, genetic mutations, hormonal influences, lifestyle choices, and environmental exposures. A comprehensive understanding of these risk factors empowers individuals to make informed decisions regarding prevention strategies and proactive screening, thereby mitigating potential risks.
Embracing Preventive MeasuresReducing the risk of breast cancer necessitates embracing a holistic approach to health and well-being. Lifestyle modifications, such as maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, engaging in regular physical activity, and avoiding hormone therapy, can significantly mitigate risk. Furthermore, staying vigilant about breast cancer symptoms, prioritizing regular screenings, and seeking timely medical intervention are indispensable preventive measures in the fight against this formidable disease.
Bottomline: Empowerment Through KnowledgeOlivia Munn's courageous journey with breast cancer serves as a poignant reminder of the power of awareness, early detection, and proactive intervention. By fostering a deeper understanding of symptoms, risk factors, and available screening modalities, individuals can take charge of their breast health and enhance overall outcomes. Let us remain vigilant, prioritize regular screenings, and collaborate with healthcare professionals to navigate the complexities of breast cancer prevention and management with resilience and determination. Through knowledge and empowerment, we can strive towards a future where breast cancer is not just treatable but preventable.
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Breast Cancer Symptoms That Aren't Lumps As Olivia Munn Reveals Diagnosis
After actress Olivia Munn revealed she is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, despite previously receiving negative test results, here are symptoms and abnormalities to help you spot breast cancer early
Olivia Munn announced she had breast cancer (Image: oliviamunn/Instagram)
Many think that breast cancer presents itself with a lump and while this is often true, there are other signs you need to be aware of and to look out for.
Regularly checking your boobs for any changes can help you spot signs of breast cancer. Around one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, but there is a good chance of recovery if it is detected at an early stage.
Olivia Munn has recently shared her breast cancer diagnosis and revealed she is undergoing treatment despite having a negative mammogram and being given the all-clear in genetic cancer tests last year. She hoped her news would "help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey".
Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast grow out of control and eventually form a growth, also known as a tumour.
The disease starts in the breast tissue, most commonly in the cells that line the milk ducts, and occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get breast cancer too.
Breast Cancer Awareness runs throughout October when charity Breast Cancer Now raises awareness of warning signs and abnormalities.
According to Breast Cancer Now, signs and symptoms of the disease include:
A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
Rash or crusting around the nipple
Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple
Changes in size or shape of the breast
On its own, breast pain is not usually a sign of cancer - but look out for pain in your breast or armpit that's there all or almost all the time.
The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is a lump in the chest area.
Most breast changes, including lumps, are not cancerous but the sooner the disease is found the more successful treatment is likely to be.
The charity urges anyone to get any new or unusual changes checked by a GP and to also check your breasts regularly.
How can I check for breast cancer?There is a five-step self exam that can help you check for any warning signs of breast cancer.
Step 1 - Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Look out for dimpling, puckering, bulging skin, redness, soreness, a rash or changes in the nipple.
Step 2 - Stay in front of the mirror and raise your arms. Look again for the same changes.
Step 3 - Next look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples, this includes watery, milky, yellow fluid, or blood.
Step 4 - Feel your breasts while lying down. Use your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast.
Using a few fingers, keeping them flat and together, go in a small circular motion around your breasts. Feel from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Try following a pattern to make sure you cover the whole breast.
The charity urges anyone to get any new or unusual changes checked by a GP and to also check your breasts regularly (Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)Use light pressure for the skin and tissue just beneath, medium pressure for the tissue in the middle of your breasts, and firm pressure to feel the tissue at the back, feeling down to your ribcage.
Step 5 - Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.
When Do Itchy Armpits Suggest Cancer?
Medically reviewed by Marisa Garshick, MD
If you have itchy armpits but don't know the cause, cancer may be a concern. If so, keep in mind that cancer is not a common cause of armpit itching. Even so, itching in one or both armpits is a rare symptom of several types of cancer.
The cancers most associated with itchy armpits are inflammatory breast cancer and lymphoma.
This article will discuss itchy armpits and the accompanying symptoms that might signal cancer. Learn what you should do if you suspect that cancer is causing this symptom.
Siarhei SHUNTSIKAU / Getty Images
Itchy Armpit Symptoms and CharacteristicsItching under the arms can occur with or without a visible rash. It can also affect one or both sides of the body. The underlying cause of this symptom will determine how it presents.
Accompanying symptoms of itchy armpits not caused by cancer may include:
Red or pinkish rash on pale skin
Brown, purple, or ashen gray rash on skin of color
Irritation
Inflammation
Bumps or blisters
Swelling
Common noncancerous causes of itchy armpits include prickly heat, eczema, and Candida yeast infection.
Prickly Heat (Heat Rash)Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Ora Waikato www.Dermnetnz.Org 2023.
Your armpits contain thousands of sweat (apocrine) glands. Each sweat gland has a duct (opening) that lets sweat exit the body through a hair follicle. When sweat ducts become blocked, heat rash (prickly heat) and intense itching can affect both armpits.
Prickly heat can also cause itching underneath the breasts, groin area, and in other body creases, such as elbows and knees.
Prickly heat causes an itchy rash of red spots or tiny, clear blisters (cysts). This rash may also cause a prickly or scratchy sensation.
If the cysts caused by prickly heat become inflamed or infected, a severely itchy and painful condition called hidradenitis suppurativa may result. Hidradenitis can sometimes resemble acne.
EczemaReproduced with permission from © DermNet dermnetnz.Org 2023
Eczema is a common skin condition that causes itching, dry skin, inflammation, and swelling.
Atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, can cause symptoms such as itching on any part of the body, including the armpits. Other symptoms include dryness, redness, and swelling.
Contact dermatitis, another form of eczema, is caused by contact with a substance you're sensitive or allergic to. Contact dermatitis under the arms can be caused by ingredients in your deodorant or body lotion. It can also be caused by detergent residue on your clothing.
Candida Yeast Infection (Cutaneous Candidiasis)Candida is a yeast that lives on the outer layers of the skin. If it penetrates the skin's inner layers, it can cause infection. This is most common in warm, moist body parts, such as the armpits and groin. Candida infection is earmarked by very itchy skin and a bump-filled rash.
Anyone can get a Candida yeast infection. People with diabetes and those with obesity may be more prone to this condition than others.
Additional Noncancerous Causes of Itchy ArmpitsIn addition to the common causes cited, these noncancerous conditions may also cause itching under the arms:
Types of Cancer With Itchy Armpits as a SymptomItchy armpits are a rare symptom of two types of cancer.
Inflammatory Breast CancerInflammatory breast cancer is a rare and aggressive form of this disease. It most commonly affects just one breast (unilateral), although bilateral occurrence (affecting both breasts) is not unheard of.
This condition can cause a rash and persistent itching in one breast. In some instances, the itchy sensation may affect the underarm on the same side of the body as the breast. You may also feel swelling in the lymph nodes of that armpit.
Cancerous lymph nodes feel swollen or hard. If there are few or no cancer cells in the lymph nodes of the armpit, you may not have this accompanying symptom. Breast lumps and tumors are not common symptoms of this type of cancer.
Early signs and symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include:
Feeling of heaviness or warmth in one breast
Thickness or swelling
Discoloration over all or most of the breast. The skin may look red, pink, or bruised
Pitting or dimpling of the skin that gives it an "orange peel" appearance
Itchy welts or hives
Pain or burning sensation
Nipple inversion or flattening
Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms usually develop over 3 to 6 months.
LymphomaLymphomas are cancers that start in the lymph system. There are more than 70 types. Most are categorized as either Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma can cause itching (pruritus) anywhere on the body. Common sites include the hands, feet, and lower legs, It's also possible to have a full-body itch. The itch caused by Hodgkin's is not accompanied by a visible skin rash.
Accompanying symptoms vary, based on the location of the lymphoma. They can include:
Skin (cutaneous) lymphoma, which has several types, can also cause itching. Unlike the itch caused by Hodgkin's lymphoma, skin lymphoma itching is usually accompanied by a rash or lumps or bumps under the skin.
In its early stages, the skin rash caused by cutaneous lymphoma may resemble eczema or psoriasis. It can take many forms, such as pimple-like lesions, flat lesions, thickened plaques, or nodules or tumors under the skin.
How to Initiate Testing for Undiagnosed CancerIf you're concerned that you may have cancer, talk to your healthcare provider. Testing must be done to confirm a diagnosis before treatment, if needed, can take place.
If itchy armpits are your only symptom, a healthcare provider may take a conservative approach to testing and treatment. They may recommend blood tests, such as those that look for tumor markers. A blood smear may also be done. It identifies abnormal blood cells which indicate lymphoma.
Your healthcare provider will check your underarm for swelling that might indicate lymph node involvement. If your lymph nodes feel swollen or hard, they will recommend a lymph node ultrasound (imaging using sound waves) and possibly a biopsy (removal of tissue to be analyzed in the lab).
If you have symptoms that affect your breast as well as your armpit, your healthcare provider will want to rule out mastitis. Mastitis is a breast infection that causes many of the same symptoms as inflammatory breast cancer. Mastitis is common during pregnancy and lactation (breast or chest feeding).
Mastitis is treated with antibiotics. If itchy armpits and other symptoms persist after treatment, your healthcare provider will recommend tests for cancer. These may include a breast biopsy or skin punch biopsy.
Dealing With Stress During Testing for CancerGoing through testing and waiting for a diagnosis can be tremendously stressful. It can also drain your energy and make it hard to function. So, taking care of yourself during this time is very important.
Self-care looks different for different people. You may benefit from activities that take your mind off of waiting. Reading, watching movies, and exercising may help. Meditation and yoga may also help reduce feelings of anxiety.
Don't isolate yourself. Keep in touch with supportive family and friends. And don't indulge in negative habits like excessive drinking or overeating that may make you feel worse in the long run.
What Happens After DiagnosisWhen you first get a cancer diagnosis, you may feel like the world is crashing down around you. Some people experience this as a time of scary unknowns.
Once you have a treatment plan in place, you'll be able to map out what the next weeks and months will bring. It may not be easy, but hopefully, you'll see progress.
It's typically recommended that you get a second opinion. This is never a bad idea and doesn't mean you don't trust the opinions of your current healthcare provider.
After a diagnosis, you'll move on to a cancer team that includes an oncologist who specializes in your type of cancer. Ask questions, and learn as much as you can about the diagnosis you've been given.
You'll want to know what stage your cancer is in. You'll also want to know what treatment options you have and why they're being recommended to you.
In addition to your treatment plan, continue with your self-care plan. You need to maintain your physical and mental health so that you are strong for what lies ahead.
SummaryItchy armpits have many common causes. Rarely, this symptom can indicate cancer. The types of cancer most commonly associated with this symptom are lymphoma, and inflammatory breast cancer.
If you have an armpit itch that doesn't abate with skin care treatment, see your healthcare provider. They can assess your condition, and recommend treatment options.
If necessary, diagnostic testing for cancer may be done. These may include blood tests, imaging tests, and a biopsy.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
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