Breast cancer is a highly prevalent condition in women. The busy lifestyle gives women little to no time to care and cater to their bodies. Moreover, the risk of developing breast cancer increases as one ages. The common symptoms of breast cancer are changes in the size and color of the breasts and lumps in parts of the breast. However, there are some uncommon symptoms that can make the diagnosis challenging. Let’s discuss them.

1. Nipple discharge
Nipple discharge is not common among women experiencing breast cancer. However, those women experiencing such discharge are advised to consult a doctor immediately. Though this is an unlikely symptom, there are clear or blood discharge out of the nipples showing signs of breast cancer.

2. Swelling of lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are a very vital part of the body. They carry out filtering out viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microbes that exist inside the body. The swelling of such lymph nodes is not a common symptom of breast cancer, but at times one may feel lumps in their body. The most common occurrences of such swellings are under the armpits or in the collarbones. These can be very harmful as they made grow in size to develop into a tumor.

3. Darkening of breasts
Darkening of breasts is common among women above 35. There always reckons a slight chance of the darkening of breasts being a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer. The darkening or the redness of the breasts is commonly confused with a skin infection. If someone experiences such discoloration in the breasts, immediately contact a doctor. However, the change in color of the breast seems like a trivial symptom. According to oncologists, it leads to the rapid development of cancer tumors.

4. Itchy nipples
Itchy nipples occur occasionally and get better on their own. Itchy nipples are seldom a symptom of breast cancer, common among women of all age groups. It usually accompanies menstruation. Chronic itching and spread of the itch from the nipple to the surrounding skin is called the areola. Other changes to the nipples include redness in the nipple and flaky skin of the nipple. Similar to the darkening of the breast, itchy nipples are also commonly seen as a skin disease. If the itchy persists, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

5. General changes in the body
Other symptoms of breast cancer can be completely unrelated to the breast region. Women may experience back pain, neck pain, chronic body pain, or unexplained weight loss. Such changes happen because the cancer cells spread to other parts of the body. These symptoms can be challenging to identify as they are associated with one’s daily life. Hence, it is upon the person to be vigilant and keep a check on bodily changes. It is also crucial for women above 35 to occasionally take time to go to the doctor.