Awareness about breast cancer has helped many women identify the signs and symptoms in time —some of the most common ones being lumps in the breast, changes in the nipple, among others. However, breast cancer does not always show symptoms, or it might show symptoms that you might not be aware of.

So, here are the rare signs and causes of breast cancer you must know.

Rare signs of breast cancer
While most women are aware of the common signs of breast cancer, it is also important to be aware of the rare signs that can help treat the condition effectively when detected early.

• Leakage from the nipple
  During pregnancy and after childbirth, discharge of fluid from the nipples is usual. Most probably, it is the milk that is leaking. But if there is a discharge without any pregnancy or childbirth, it can be a sign of breast cancer. 
• Blood discharging from the nipple
  Having a bloodstain on the bra or on the nipple can is also a rare sign of breast cancer. But, in most cases, this is harmless. Many times, bloody discharge from the nipples can also be caused by several other conditions that are not breast cancer. These can include:
  • Duct ectasia
  • Intraductal papilloma
  • Rubbing of clothes against the breast
    It is important to visit a doctor and get all the necessary tests done to find out the cause of the discharge.
• Swelling in the lymph nodes
  The cells in the body responsible for killing the viruses, bacteria, and any other harmful objects are known as lymph nodes. When you suffer from the common cold, you can feel a lump on either side of the neck. This happens because the lymph nodes are fighting the virus in the body. It might not be very common, but it can happen that lymph nodes can swell up due to cancer. If a person has breast cancer, swollen lymph nodes can be felt near the collarbone or the armpit. The swollen lymph nodes can be felt even before the breast cancer tumor becomes too big to be felt. Therefore, if you can feel a swollen lymph node around these areas, you must get it checked by a doctor.

Causes of breast cancer
Learning everything about the rare signs and causes of breast cancer is essential to nip the problem in the bud. So far, the cause of breast cancer has been known to be the abnormal growth of breast cells. These cells grow faster than the healthy cells and soon accumulate and eventually turn into a lump. When these cells metastasize, they can spread to a wider area and affect the lymph nodes and the other distant parts of the body.