how to identify breast problem if it benign or malignant ca (benign vs malignant )

 according to color of nipple discharge , you can make initial diagnosis 

yellow (pus) : breast abscess 

serous/greenish : duct ectasia , fibrocystic changes

bloody discharge : duct papilloma , carcinoma 

milky : galactocele 

also you should cover those symptoms/sign in history 

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loss weight , loss appetite  alarm sign of possible malignancy 

bone pain , dyspnia , jaundice , abdominal pain/distension may indicate metastasis 

fever , breast trauma(fat necrosis) , breast feeding hx (mastitis)

also , most important  , in breast lump


malignant                                                   -             benign

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hard consistency                                        -  smooth and  rubbery

painless(pain in 1/1000                             -  often painful

irregular edges                                          - well defined 

fixed to skin or chest wall                        - easily moves under skin 

can cause dimpling of skin                       - skin dimpling unlikely 

may have unilateral-bloody discharge     - may green/yellow  colored nipple discharge 

can have nipple retraction                        - no nipple retraction 


conclusion : 

if your lump , smooth , painful , moving  it is likely benign also if it painless , there are some benign nodules are painless and common 

but if it painless with dimpling , retraction , fixed to skin , bloody discharge , it may be malignant 

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