With one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer At some point in their lives, experts agree that early detection and treatment are essential.

“One of the main goals in breast cancer detection is to try to find these cancers before they cause problems,” Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier told Fox News Digital during a conversation on camera.

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or lump, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

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“The most common is a palpable mass,” confirms Saphier.

“People come in with a lump. Sometimes it can be something benign, like a cyst, but it can also be cancer.”

With one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, experts agree that early detection and treatment is essential. (iStock)

However, not all warning signs are obvious.

“It’s not just about feeling a lump,” Saphier said. “Breast cancer can have other signs.”

1. Nipple discharge

Studies have shown that nipple discharge is a symptom for 3-9% of breast cancer patients.

In particular, discharge containing blood can be a warning sign, according to Saphier.

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“Some women…see a little blood in their bra,” she said. “This may be a sign of cancer cells in the duct.”

2. Itchy skin

Some women experience itchy skin, Saphier said, whether it’s the skin of the breast or just the nipple itself.

“This could be an indicator of an inflammatory process inside the breast,” she warns.

3. Swollen lymph nodes

Another early sign of breast cancer is swelling or bumps in the lymph nodes, the doctor noted.

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They can appear in the breast itself, under the armpit, or in the armpit, the space below the shoulder joint where the arm connects to the shoulder.

An early sign of breast cancer is swelling or bumps in the lymph nodes, the doctor noted. (iStock)

“This can mean not only is there cancer in the breast, but that it has now spread to the lymph nodes,” Saphier said.

4. Red or inflamed skin

This is one of the most common signs of inflammatory breast cancer, which is a “rare and aggressive type of invasive breast cancer in which cancer cells block lymphatic vessels in the skin,” according to the ACS .

“It’s a different cancer in the sense that it doesn’t present as a mass,” Saphier told Fox News Digital.

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People are sometimes treated for weeks or even months for what they think is a skin condition or allergic reaction when in fact it is an infection, says the doctor.

“Sometimes what shows up in the skin is due to something a little more nefarious going on underneath,” she cautioned.

The main takeaway, Saphier said, is to pay attention to your body and take action if you notice changes. (iStock)

Saphier says she often sees patients who have been under steroids or antibioticsbut I have never had a skin biopsy.

“Until you do that biopsy… you won’t necessarily know that it’s an inflammatory cancer that’s causing these problems,” she said. “And unfortunately, that can lead to later diagnosis.”

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The main takeaway, Saphier said, is to pay attention to your body and take action if you notice changes.

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“You know your body better than anyone,” she said.

“If there is a change, you always have to look medical advice and insist on imaging to be sure nothing is happening inside.”