16 Surprising Cancer Symptoms Everyone Should Know
Why You Get Chest Pain At Your Time Of The Month And The Reason Men Get Sore Nipples: A Doctor's Essential Guide To Everything That Can Go Wrong With Breasts - And What To Do ...
Boobs. Baps, bosoms, jugs… norks. Coconuts, melons, puppies, the twins, the girls. Waps, tatas, cha-chas, knockers, honkers, bongos, bazookas. Obviously, I'm talking about breasts.
There are few organs – bar one or two, erm, obvious examples – that have as many nicknames or are given as much thought or airtime. Much of it relates to their sexual function.
On the flip side, it's still pretty common to hear talk of whether or not breastfeeding, the primary purpose of breasts, is 'appropriate' in public.
Yet as a GP working in the NHS I also often see patients who seem pretty mystified about what's normal when it comes to their own breasts.
The irony isn't lost on me.
GP and broadcaster Dr Philippa Kaye (pictured) reveals everything that can go with your breasts (that isn't cancer) in her must-read breast care guide
Dr Kaye has written a book about taking care of your breasts - 'Breasts: An Owner's Guide'
And so, with this in mind, I have written a book about them. Breasts: An Owner's Guide, is a one-stop shop to understanding this most mythologised and objectified body part.
And it's based largely on the sorts of things I'm asked and see as a GP. Often women come to me as they're worried about pain, a lump, bump, rash or change. Often their primary fear is cancer, and of course I always tell them they've done the right thing in booking an appointment.
But I also try to reassure my patients. While breast cancer affects one in seven British women, it's actually not, by a long stretch, the most common reason for problems.
And so here I'll try to cover everything that can (and does on a regular basis) go wrong with the breasts, and explain what we can do about it.
BREAST PAIN? IT COULD BE YOUR HORMONESWeek in, week out, women of a wide variety of ages come to see me complaining of the same thing: their breasts hurt. And I'm glad they do.
Women, for myriad reasons, often put up with pain – be it lingering discomfort from giving birth to backache from running around after and lifting toddlers, period pain and so on. I'm sure that many women reading this will be nodding in agreement. But my message is simple. Pain shouldn't be seen as normal or brushed off, and if it's new or unexpected, it should always be investigated.
Even if it's something that's being going on for a while, there might be something your GP can do to help, so book an appointment.
Breast pain, or mastalgia, is incredibly common, affecting seven in ten women at some point in their lives. For the majority, it's mild and manageable. But in some cases it can be miserable – women who suffer might avoid exercise, have trouble sleeping, avoid sex or even a cuddle.
IT'S A FACTAbout one in ten women have at least one flat or inverted nipple, which may pop out when cold or aroused.
AdvertisementPatients who come to me with this problem (and many other breast issues) often ask: 'Could it be cancer?' The answer is, it's quite unusual for pain to be a symptom of breast cancer, although it's still worth getting it checked. Lumps and skin or nipple changes are much more common signs. Putting that aside, I usually try to find out if the pain fluctuates during the month, and if it affects both breasts. If the answer is yes, it's likely to be cyclical mastalgia – pain related to the menstrual cycle, and natural fluctuation in hormone levels.
Each month, whether or not you are trying to conceive, these hormones prepare the breasts for pregnancy and eventually breastfeeding. Oestrogen stimulates the growth of milk ducts in the first half of the menstrual cycle and changing levels of progesterone in the second half stimulate the formation of milk glands and breast lobules. And this seems to cause discomfort in many women, although it's not clear why some are affected and some aren't.
Those who suffer usually say the pain is worse in the few days leading up to their period. But it can start up to two weeks before and tends to improve after the period starts. Generally the discomfort and tenderness affects both breasts, but might be worse in one than the other and is often more severe in the upper outer part of the breasts.
You might also notice that the breasts feel more swollen and lumpy before the period, and that this resolves after the period begins, when the breasts may feel softer and smaller.
Cyclical mastalgia can occur from as soon as periods start in puberty to when they end at the menopause. Often it's more severe during adolescence and then again during the perimenopause. It can also come and go. Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol can be useful, as can rubbing a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel into the breasts. Some women find Vitamin B6, Vitamin E or evening primrose oil supplements helpful.
Others find benefit from taking flaxseed. There's no good scientific data to support use of these non-drug remedies, but they are unlikely to do harm.
In more severe cases, hormonal treatments such as the combined oral contraceptive pill can be helpful and, rarely, hormonal medications such as tamoxifen or goserelin injections are given to reduce or block oestrogen.
SPRAINS AND STRAINS CAN CAUSE SORENESSNot all breast pain is cyclical. It can be more constant and affect just one breast. For some, the discomfort may actually originate in the muscles of the chest wall or the rib cage.
Strains, sprains and inflammation can occur in these areas due to injuries or physical strain – moving furniture is a common one, as is overdoing exercise – or due to a respiratory infection that causes a lot of coughing.
The breasts hang off the chest wall muscles, so not wearing a well-fitting bra can be the culprit.
Other causes of non-cyclical mastalgia include inflammation of the breast (mastitis). This is usually due to a bacterial infection related to breastfeeding. Shingles – a viral infection that causes painful ulcers on the skin – is another one. I'll address this in more detail when I discuss breast rashes.
The treatment of non-cyclical mastalgia will depend on what is causing the pain, and simple painkillers can be used. Exercises to stretch and improve mobility of the back, neck and shoulders can be helpful.
If the breasts are big and heavy, they can cause you to hunch over forwards, so exercises to counteract this may help.
Hormones mean men can suffer sore nipples as wellA relatively common condition, called gynaecomastia, causes male breast tissue to grow larger than usual (stock photo)
Breast problems are not just reserved for women. A relatively common condition, called gynaecomastia, causes male breast tissue to grow larger than usual.
Sometimes there's just a small amount of excess tissue, perhaps forming a firm, tender lump under the nipple, and other times it is larger, giving the appearance of enlarged male breasts. The condition, which can affect one or both breasts (medically, the term is used for men too) and trigger problems with self-esteem, as well as physical discomfort.
The area can be painless, tender or extremely painful.
Gynaecomastia happens because of an imbalance between the male and female sex hormones.
If levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen are higher than testosterone, excess breast tissue can develop.
Fluctuating hormones in adolescence mean that it is common to see gynaecomastia in teenage boys, but it usually disappears on its own within a few years.
The problem is also common in elderly men, who have falling levels of testosterone.
A number of factors can exacerbate the problem: obesity, some medications, alcohol and thyroid conditions.
Sometimes doctors may prescribe the drug tamoxifen to address hormonal imbalances, which can shrink the excess tissue, but some men will need surgery to remove it.
There is a similar-looking condition, called pseudogynecomastia, which isn't due to enlarged glandular tissue but excess fat.
Often seen in people who have obesity, it is considered a cosmetic issue as there isn't discomfort or pain.
But men who are affected can feel self-conscious, and some cosmetic surgeons offer fat-reducing operations for this reason – at a price.
Some men can be affected by both conditions.
Advertisement COULD IT BE A TOUCH OF JOGGER'S NIPPLE?A patient, let's call her Beth, recently came to see me because her nipples had been hurting. She'd been training for an upcoming marathon and noticed the pain more on cold morning runs. She told me she'd always struggled with cold feet and hands, but hadn't expected cold nipples. Beth had a combination of both nipple vasospasm and jogger's nipple.
Nipple vasospasm can occur with Raynaud's disease, when, for reasons not totally understood, the blood vessels supplying the extremities constrict drastically, reducing blood supply. The fingertips, toes and, yes, nipples can be affected, and turn white or even blue-ish, and be painful or go numb.
Pain can also occur as the areas warm up and the circulation returns to normal.
Cold is one trigger, but some patients find that stress sparks it.
As for jogger's nipple, this is due to chafing, friction and irritation from clothes and movement when running. Wearing a well-fitting supportive bra (I'll keep coming back to this) can be helpful, as can using plasters (there are a specific type, called nipple guards) and an anti-chafing cream, or a layer of petroleum jelly.
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE A DISCHARGEON the same day that I saw Beth, I saw another patient, we'll call her Anita, who had noticed that she was getting some discharge from her nipples.
She was not pregnant, nor was she breastfeeding and hadn't noticed any other changes. I'd seen her a month or so back and prescribed her the contraceptive pill while she waited for an appointment to have a coil fitted.
Nipple discharge is common, and can be related to the menstrual cycle. It can be normal for some women. Alternatively, it can be related to hormonal contraception – as it was in Anita's case – or certain antidepressants, as well as herbal supplements such as fenugreek, which some women believe helps with period cramps.
If it is medication, then swapping to a different type can help.
Once Anita had her coil fitted, the discharge stopped just a few days after our appointment.
Nipple discharge can also be a sign of breast cancer, so if you do notice it for the first time, or you notice changes in what you'd consider normal discharge, please see your GP.
The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli in 1485
WHAT TRIGGERS THOSE NASTY, SMELLY RASHES?Rashes are another common problem that can affect the breasts. The one I see most often is intertrigo, which occurs when skin rubs against skin.
It's more likely to affect women with large or pendulous breasts, or if you sweat a lot.
Those who suffer hot flushes and night sweats during the menopause can get it, as can women who do lots of exercise, and we always see more of it during heatwaves.
The rash of intertrigo is typically found on the underside of the breast. It is usually itchy and sore, and the skin may be red or darker in colour.
Skin cracking, weeping and ulceration can occur too, and it can be malodorous.
It can also lead to a secondary fungal or bacterial infection, and antifungal creams or antibiotics are prescribed in these cases.
If you are prone to intertrigo, try to keep the area clean and pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it, and make sure your bra isn't chafing. Using a barrier cream to reduce friction can also help.
The breasts are covered by skin, so skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis may occur. Body lotions and perfumes can also trigger dermatitis. In these instances, an antihistamine can stop immediate itching and discomfort, but ultimately it's important to avoid whatever has caused it.
If you notice any changes to the skin on your breasts, such as a rash, redness or darkening of the skin, or the appearance of cellulite on the breasts, these can be related to breast cancer, so be sure to get checked out.
WHY A WELL-FITTING BRA IS THE KEY TO BEATING MANY KINDS OF BREAST PAINSurveys suggest that as many as four in five women are not wearing the right bra for them (stock photo)
I doubt if many of you will be surprised to learn that doctors aren't taught about bras at medical school. But as a GP, I've learnt just how important a well-fitting one can be.
Surveys suggest that as many as four in five women are not wearing the right bra for them. And I can concur – I see it all.
Bras so small that the straps dig into the shoulders and the breasts bulge out, or so big the cups gape.
That's not to mention the bras that are so old they clearly provide no support – or have worn away so the wire digs mercilessly into the skin.
All these things can result in breast pain.
And in women with very large breasts, there can also be back, shoulder and neck pain.
There are some rules of thumb to look for in a bra.
The band, which circles the torso below the breasts, should be level all the way round, not rising up at the back.
It should also fit snugly, but not too tight – you should be able to easily slide a finger underneath the band but not more.
Straps should be adjustable and adjusted. After all, you could be a foot taller than someone else and have the same size breasts, but the straps will need to be longer for you.
The straps should neither dig in nor fall off. Try lifting the strap with a finger – it should give a little but if you can lift the straps up to your ears, they are too loose.
The straps will also need readjusting over time as they become looser with age.
Also, the centre gore – the part of the bra between the breasts – should lie flat against your breastbone. It should neither float away nor dig into the breast tissue.
And, finally, the cups should sit flush to the breast, not wrinkle or sag away, and they shouldn't dig in, meaning that the breast bulges over the top.
If you aren't sure of your size, Marks & Spencer, Next and many other big department stores offer fitting services.
If you can't face that, you can also do virtual fittings online.
And it's worth trying now as your shape and size changes throughout life, so it might surprise you to discover that you're not the size you thought you were.
Advertisement A LUMP DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS TO BE CANCERJust recently I saw a woman in her mid-40s who was very worried about a lump in her breast.
'How long has it been there?' I asked. She didn't know. She never checked her breasts. In fact, it was her husband who'd noticed it.
She was, quite simply, terrified. And she had put off coming to see me for a month, hoping it would just go away.
After an examination – yes, there was a lump – I referred her to a breast clinic on a two-week wait. We call this a suspected cancer referral.
IT'S A FACTA survey of 2,000 people found that about half of men, and 60 per cent of women, prefer average sized, C-cup breasts.
AdvertisementBut, as I explained to this woman, it's important not to panic. It does not automatically mean that you have cancer.
In fact, nine out of ten women referred to breast clinics do NOT have breast cancer. It's just that we can't tell by looking and feeling alone.
Breast clinics are one-stop shops. Patients will see a doctor and potentially have investigations on the same day.
These can include a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy, where a little bit of the suspect tissue is taken using a needle (a local anaesthetic is used). Some results may be available the same day.
Fibroadenomas – overgrowth of an area of glandular and connective tissue in the breast – are the most common type of benign breast lump (and this is what it turned out to be in the case of the woman who came to see me). They often feel round, firm and rubbery, and move slightly under the skin during an examination. They don't tend to be painful, and most don't need any sort of treatment. Most are less than half an inch in size, but if they're very large, or seem to be growing, we might suggest surgery to remove them.
Fibrocystic breasts – collections of small cysts and areas of fibrous thickening – are also often seen. These may feel like frozen peas or corn inside the breast.
Many women don't require treatment for fibrocystic breasts. If they are causing mild soreness, wearing a supportive bra, applying gentle heat to the area and over-the-counter painkillers should help.
Lipomas, a benign overgrowth of fat cells, are another type of lump. They're usually small – less than half an inch – and if they can be felt they tend to be doughy and soft. Again, they don't normally need treatment.
Remember, check your breasts, know what's normal for you, and get anything new looked at by a doctor.
A version of this article was published in the Mail on March 18
I'm Not Pregnant Or Dating — I'm Not Even Sure I Want Kids — But I'm Buying A Bunch Of Baby Clothes
Hat's off to her?
A Tennessee millennial who isn't pregnant, isn't dating, and isn't sure she'll even have kids says she has an attic full of baby clothes that she washes once a year.
"I don't know if I particularly want kids right now — I'm 32 and I don't have a partner," Katie Wood, a solicitor from Chattanooga, explained to SWNS.
"But I love thrifting," she reasoned. "And thrifting for any future kids has kind of become its own thing."
Wood said she started out thrifting for her niece, Isla, 5, and nephew, Ian, 13 months. Then, she decided to keep some of her finds for her alleged future kids, so she can save money if they are, in fact, born.
Katie Wood, 32, isn't pregnant, isn't dating, and isn't sure she'll even have kids — but she has an attic full of baby clothes that she washes once a year. Katie Wood / SWNSShe keeps a box in the attic of 20-plus items of baby clothing — as well as shoes — with silica pouches for preservation.
Wood says she's very open to letting a future partner know about her stash — and friends and family are on board.
Wood has loved bargain hunting since she was a child, especially scouring garage sales with her parents.
Growing up with 14 aunts, uncles, and "a ton" of cousins, Wood's wardrobe was filled with hand-me-downs.
Wood says she's very open to letting a future partner know about her stash — and friends and family are on board. Katie Wood / SWNSBut as a teenager, she rejected the idea of secondhand clothes in favor of new, fast-fashion items like her friends wore.
"For a while in my teens, I hated garage sales and spent a lot on trendy clothes," Wood recalled. "All my clothes were brand new — and with fast fashion, nothing is made well anymore, so I'd have to keep buying more."
After starting at Florida International Law School in 2010, at the age of 18, Wood began once again appreciating pre-loved clothing so she could afford "better" quality items.
She'd rifle through clothing bins in charity shops to find the best, most durable pieces — often snagging pairs of Levi's jeans and tennis shoes.
Wood has even started to envision styles for her hypothetical kids — she wants them to eschew slogan T-shirts, big labels, and Disney gear for durable clothing like miniature Levi's jeans. Katie Wood / SWNS"My biggest thrifting hack has to be rifling through the bins," Wood shared. "There are some bits that are worth over $40 that I've got for $3 each."
When Isla was born in 2019, Wood began thrifting baby outfits for her niece — like hand-knitted cardigans and dresses for $3 or $4 each.
She doubled down once Ian arrived four years later.
This Izod blue button down is part of her burgeoning collection. Katie Wood / SWNSNow, she's saving clothes for potential future children, so she can eventually save money on designer gear.
"Until my niece was born, I was set on not having kids. But I loved her so much, I could only imagine what it would be like to love a child of my own," Wood divulged. "I realized I had to keep an open mind — and I started holding the clothes back so my future kids could wear them."
Wood has even started to envision styles for her hypothetical kids — she wants them to eschew slogan T-shirts, big labels, and Disney gear for durable clothing like miniature Levi's jeans.
"I can always gift [the saved clothes] at baby showers if I don't give them to my own kids, which is a bit of a sad thought," she sighed.
My Nose Ballooned When I Got Pregnant — It's Still Not Back To Normal 2 Years Later
Expect the unexpected.
Many first-time mothers anticipate pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness, body aches, food cravings or swollen facial features. However, one new mom did not expect her swollen "pregnancy nose" to be a seemingly permanent side effect.
Gabriela Garrido, 36, noticed her facial features were slowly changing throughout her pregnancy, but once she reached nine months, she realized her nose had grown by one-third.
In a resurfaced photo carousel she posted on her TikTok account @gabyantillana, she revealed before- and after-pregnancy nose images.
Gabriela Garrido is shown in a selfie before her pregnancy. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillana Garrido is four months pregnant in this photo. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillana Gabriela Garrido, 36, is pictured with a larger nose — which she said grew by a third — during the last month of her pregnancy. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillana"My nose was wider and more round. It filled up as if someone pumped it like a balloon," Garrido told Kennedy News and Media. "It was like Pinocchio when his nose grows out."
The London, England, resident didn't realize the significant difference in her nose until late in her pregnancy.
"It was around six months into my pregnancy — I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. I felt my face just looked a bit more swollen," she confessed.
Garrido confirmed her suspicion when she contrasted photos.
"In that last month, I thought my nose definitely looked different, especially after comparing it to old pictures," she added.
Garrido attributes her pregnancy nose to an urban myth from her Latin roots.
"I'm Dominican. In Latin culture, it's a running joke that women's noses get bigger when they're pregnant," she explained. "I always thought it was an old wives' tale. When it happened to me, I thought there was some truth to this."
Garrido is shown in another pre-pregnancy image. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillana Garrido, pictured holding her baby, believes her nose has deflated since her pregnancy but not to its original size. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillanaPregnancy nose occurs when women experience swelling in the schnozzle due to pregnancy hormone changes, according to Ohio State Health & Discovery. "Estrogen dilates blood vessels, causing swelling around the entire body — including the nose."
Garrido didn't make the unexpected facial change impact her self-confidence.
"My approach was more to be kind to myself and accept that when you're pregnant, especially with your first baby, life will inevitably change so much," the 36-year-old said.
The new mother, shown during her last month of pregnancy, admitted she's received mean comments about her nose but remains positive. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillanaShe assumed her enlarged nose would deflate once she delivered her son, but eight months later, her nose hasn't reverted to its original size.
"I got married when my son was 8 months old. I remember that was one of the times I looked at the pictures and thought, 'Wow. My nose is still different after pregnancy,'" Garrido admitted.
"It did feel a bit strange looking in the mirror feeling that you don't look the same, but I wouldn't say I felt bad about the way I looked."
The new mother started to accept that her new nose was here to stay.
"It's now two years since I've had my son. I don't think it's exactly the same, but it probably looks similar to what it looked like pre-pregnancy," she said.
While Garrido shines a light on the changes women undergo during pregnancy, she admitted some men have left nasty comments about her appearance, with one even stooping to write, "This makes me consider getting a vasectomy."
The mom, shown on her wedding day, wants more people to realize that it's normal to not feel a pregnancy glow. Kennedy News and Media/gabyantillanaShe deleted the rude comment to prevent other women from feeling insecure about the physical changes pregnancy does to their bodies.
"I was taken aback by how someone could feel entitled to comment something like that about a woman's appearance and suggest it would be better for a woman not to get pregnant because her appearance might change," the mother explained.
The post-maternity clothing brand owner wants to normalize so-called "pregnancy noses" and the unexpected changes mothers go through.
"A lot of people talk about the pregnancy glow, but I think it's normal to not feel glowing," Garrido said. "All noses are beautiful. It's ok to feel strange about your new nose, but it's not ugly."
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