Any abnormality in the breast should be investigated to determine the cause.
(1) Nipple discharge, especially bloody discharge, is often associated with breast cancer. In women over 50 years old, more than half of cases of bloody discharge may be malignant.
(2) Localized thickening of the breast gland is a common but often overlooked sign in clinical practice. If this condition occurs in premenopausal women, especially with some variations in size during the menstrual cycle, it is usually considered physiological. However, if the thickened tissue persists regardless of the menstrual cycle or if it continues to thicken and expand, especially in postmenopausal women, it should be taken seriously.
(3) Persistent nipple erosion despite local treatment should raise suspicion of Paget's disease. The positivity rate of cell smears is usually high, and a prompt diagnosis should be made.
(4) Breast pain in premenopausal women, especially when it varies in intensity during the menstrual cycle, is often considered physiological. However, if the pain is localized, fixed in a specific area, unrelated to the menstrual cycle, or occurs in postmenopausal women, the cause should be determined.
(5) Unexplained areolar edema, nipple retraction, and localized skin depression on the breast should all be thoroughly investigated to determine the cause.
In summary, early detection and treatment are undoubtedly the direction of breast cancer prevention and control. Currently, there is an urgent need to promote knowledge about early breast cancer detection, conduct widespread breast cancer screening, and encourage women to perform self-examinations of their breasts, in order to achieve the goal of improving survival rates and reducing mortality rates as soon as possible.
