BODY SIGNAL ALERT CHANGES IN THE CONTOUR OF THE BREAST WITH DIMPLED OR PITTED SKIN: DESCRIPTION AND POSSIBLE MEDICAL PROBLEMS
As your body ages, your breasts flatten out slightly and start to droop as gravity continues its long-range plans. Since you are probably already aware of these changes, you might not know that other changes in the contour of the breast—such as dimpled or pitted skin—might signal a serious medical problem. Some women might just associate these changes in the shape of their breasts as another sign of aging. This is a big mistake.
When the shape of the outside of your breast changes, it usually means that something on the inside has changed to affect the shape. In fact, if you feel your breast where the skin has changed, you’ll probably be able to feel a small lump beneath the skin. Whether it’s a slight bulge or a small caved-in area, a change in the contour of one or both of your breasts usually means that a malignant tumor is affecting the tissue of the breast itself.
If you’re diligent about your monthly exam, you should be able to detect a lump in your breast long before the skin of your breasts begins to look pitted or dimpled. However, if you’ve just recently noticed the dimpled or pitted skin that then led you to discover the lump, you need to see your doctor immediately.
If you notice that the skin of your breasts has changed, see your doctor immediately.
*387\167\8*
