Symptoms and signs

Breast lumps and nipple discharge are the commonest complaints with which cancer presents. Changes in the skin over breasts, like dimpling, eczematous rashes around the nipples should alert you to seek further advice. It is rare that cancer shows up with the only problem being pain, but still it may draw your attention to the underlying lump. So you need to be vigilant.

For women who have breast problems like lumps, pain or nipple discharge, there are breast clinics at the Cancer Institute, Maharagama and Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. Also they can seek help at surgical clinics at any government hospital. "The most important thing is to seek medical advice as early as possible, once you have a problem," Dr. Wijesundera stresses.

But every lump is not cancer. Most of the lumps are harmless, especially in young people. However, nothing excludes cancer except proper assessment. Every breast lump needs to be examined by a doctor, and then it needs mammography if you are above 35 years or ultrasound scan.

An investigation called 'Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology', where a small needle is used to obtain a few cells from the lump is also needed. These three components are necessary to determine whether a lump is cancerous or not.