If you get breast carcinoma, how do you feel?

Initially no symptom: A breast cancer can grow for about 8 to 10 years before it reaches 1 centimeter in diameter - about 3/8's of an inch. A breast cancer that size would likely have no symptoms at all, and would be unlikely to be detected on a breast exam by you or your doctor. However, a breast cancer could show up on a mammogram years before it reaches even 1 centimeter in size. Do your mammograms as recommended.

Usually no symptoms: Most patients have a lump or a mammographic abnormality or both. The lump may be painful, but usually not. In thev early stages, patients have no other symptoms - that is why you need mammograms and need to have any breast lump checked out.

Rare Symptoms: Most women with early-stage breast cancer have no symptoms at all. If the cancer has spread to other organs and is not treated, it can eventually cause symptoms in the affected organ (bone pain, breathing problems, etc). Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have their own side effects such as hair loss, lethargy, etc, but the benefit of cure outweighs the short-term side effects.

Many feel panic: And worry is understandable. Illusions of immortality are dashed, and limitless life seem crashing down. After shock, it's time to organize, marshall forces of friends, family, allies and find a treatment team to help you out of the pit into action to get better and see that success is not a fantasy but a true liklihood. Fear can paralyze. Reach out for help...It's there!