Breast cancer is cancer that is formed due to the abnormal division of cells in different parts of the breasts. The condition is one of the common cancers diagnosed in women in America. Both men and women are susceptible to this type of cancer, but the latter are more likely to be prone to it. Here are the signs, symptoms, and causes of breast cancer that you should know about.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer can vary from person to person, however, having a general idea of what to look out for helps detect the condition early. Some common and early signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:

• Changes and swelling in the skin
• Redness in one or both the breasts
• Increase in the size of the breast/breasts
• Change in the shape of the breast/breasts
• Change in the appearance of nipples
• Discharge other than breast milk from one or both the nipples
• Bloody discharge from the nipples
• Pain in the breast/breasts
• A breast lump or thickening in the surrounding tissues of the breast/breasts
• Itchy breast/breasts
• Change in the color of the breast/breasts
• Peeling of the nipple skin
• Swelling of the breast, even if there is no lump
• Nipple pain
• Rash around the nipples
• Nipples turning inward
• A lump in the underarm
• Heaviness and burning sensation in one breast
• Changes in texture and temperature of the breast/breasts

Causes of breast cancer
The exact cause of breast cancer is not known. Researchers say that it is a combination of hormonal, lifestyle, and environmental factors that increase the risk of developing the condition. It is usually caused by a complex interaction between the genetic makeup and the environment. Now that you know the signs and symptoms, here are some known risk factors that are known to cause breast cancer:

• Exposure to radiation at an early age
• Being obese and overweight
• High sugar intake
• Treatment of hormonal imbalance
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Age of the person
• Genetic mutations
• Prolonged exposure to estrogen
• Entering the menopausal stage
• Family history of breast cancer
• The density of the breast tissue
• Smoking tobacco
• The onset of periods at a younger age (before 12 years)
• Conceiving at an older age (after 35 years)
• Women who never become pregnant
• Postmenopausal estrogen and progesterone medications

The signs, symptoms, and causes of breast cancer differ from people to people. While there is no definitively known cause for this disease to occur, all we know is that DNA damage in the cell plays a major role. Certain risk factors can increase one’s chances of breast cancer, and exercising, limiting the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle can lower the risks of developing the condition.