Lymphoma in the armpit: Beware of breast cancer

The article was consulted with Dr. Le Ngoc May - Internal Oncologist - Cancer Center - Radiation Therapy - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.

Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit are one of the warning signs of breast cancer. Currently, in Vietnam and many countries around the world, breast cancer is the leading disease in cancer in women. If detected early, breast cancer patients have a high chance of survival.

Lymph nodes are lymphoid organizations that appear in many locations of the body, concentrated in the neck, collarbone, armpit, groin... When the lymph nodes located under the skin are enlarged, they can be palpable with their shape. round like a marble or flattened like a bean.
The lymph nodes function as the body's immune system. Swollen lymph nodes are a warning sign that something is wrong with the body. Some causes of enlarged lymph nodes are infection or cancer.
Lymphoma in the armpit can be caused by trauma to the armpit, arm, ear infection... However, the characteristics of these nodes are that they soon disappear and do not affect the patient's health much.
Most people with breast cancer have lymph nodes in the armpit. This is because the armpit is where most of the mammary lymph nodes drain. Therefore, axillary lymph node swelling is a diagnostic sign of the disease.

Breast cancer can be detected early by breast self-examination, early signs of breast cancer include:

This sign you can observe at home, see the change in breast size and shape, compare the 2 sides. Especially in people with many mammary glands, they often see sagging breasts and change in shape.

Examination by lying on the back and palpation and palpation of the breast may reveal a small mass.

The most common location for breast lumps is to appear below the nipple, when there is a breast tumor, the nipple changes to become flatter, inward, the skin on the nipple may become rough, scaly or inflamed.
2.4 Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit or neck Nodules can be encountered in many cases such as flu, common bacterial infections. However, if the lymph nodes in the armpit and neck area are swollen and painful for more than a week without an obvious cause, it should not be subjective, it may be a sign of breast cancer.
2.5 Red and Swollen Breasts Often feels hot, or red, sometimes purple, and painful. Because the tumor puts pressure on the tissues, causing inflammation, causing swelling, heat, redness, and pain.
2.6 Nipple discharge Signs of breast cancer due to nipple discharge are ductal papilloma and ductal inflammation, less than 5% of nipple discharge causes breast cancer, the majority Patients through examination that detect tumors in the breast. Nipple discharge due to breast cancer can be blood, mucus or watery, making this smear and lactoscopy are the main methods for accurate diagnosis.

SEE ALSO: Guide customers to do monthly breast self-examination

As soon as you have any symptoms of the disease, you should not be subjective but need to go to the hospital immediately for examination and accurate diagnosis of the disease. Diagnosis of breast cancer requires a combination of different methods to accurately determine the disease status. Diagnosis is based on the results of the initial clinical examination such as examining the axillary lymph nodes, some tests may be ordered including:
Breast ultrasound Mammogram Mammogram Magnetic resonance mammogram Tumor biopsy breast

Breast cancer gives very good treatment results if detected in time. Therefore, as soon as symptoms appear, patients should seek medical attention immediately.
All body reactions have a cause. Therefore, abnormal lymph nodes can also be a warning sign of the risk of breast cancer.
Women who are at an age that are prone to breast cancer, have a high risk of developing the disease, such as having a family member with cancer or are frequently exposed to cancer risk factors should be examined and screened for cancer. regular breasts.
Breast cancer screening package at Vinmec International General Hospital helps patients
Detect breast tumors even though they are very small. Early detection, the cure rate is from 95-100%. Early detection of treatment can use conservative methods, only removing the tumor and keeping the breast intact. Breast cancer can be detected early by performing breast self-examination to detect early signs. One of the signs that should not be ignored is abnormal lymph nodes in the armpit and neck. Early detection brings high treatment efficiency, ensures aesthetics, reduces treatment costs and hospital stay.
However, women also note that during the menstrual cycle, breasts are often tight and hard. This is completely normal. You should perform a breast self-exam 1 to 3 days after your period stops.
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