The most recognized symptom of breast cancer is a lump or mass in the breast tissue. Although many women go to their doctor after finding a lump, they should also be aware of any other changes to the breast or nipple.

Common Breast Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of breast cancer vary from person to person. Some common breast cancer symptoms include:

• Skin changes, such as swelling, redness, or other visible differences in one or both breasts
• An increase in size or change in shape of the breast(s)
• Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk
• General pain in/on any part of the breast
• Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast

There are many different factors that can contribute to cancer, and many of these fall into the categories of nutrition and diet, per Dr. Elson M. Hass.

The American Cancer Society Medical and Scientific Committee concluded the following:

• Avoid obesity. Obese people have higher incidences of many cancers, particularly of the breast, colon, stomach, gallbladder, and uterus.
• Reduce fat intake. Dietary fat is mainly associated with increased risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancer.
• Eat more high-fiber foods, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables. Foods should be rich in vitamin A, vitamin C. Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A, and can be found in many fruits and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, tomatoes, apricots, peaches and melons.
• Include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.
• Minimize the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Avoid the consumption of salt-cured, smoked, and nitrate treated foods. Nitrates and nitrites can form nitrosamine, a carcinogen, in the digestive tract. Also, the smoking of foods can cause fats to be converted to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are carcinogenic.

Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic believe several types of cancer are associated with being overweight/obese. In women these include: cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight/obese men are at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, obesity is linked to cancer of the colon and rectum, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, kidney, as well as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These are mainly cancers of the gastrointestinal system, a reflection of what goes into our mouths.