Menopause brings more than just physical changes. Although it does not cause breast cancer, the risk of this disease increases as you grow older. Therefore, menopausal women are at higher risk of breast cancer since they are aging.

The average age for women to go through menopause is 51 years. But if you have suffered from breast cancer, some treatments may result in an early onset of the phase.

Risk factors for breast cancer

• Age is the most important risk as about 95% of women with breast cancer are over 40 years old
• The risk is higher if you have a family history of the disease
• A breast biopsy showing benign diseases increases the risk
• Having cancer in one breast may recur or develop in the other breast
• Obesity or overweight even after attaining menopause
• History of ovarian, colon, or uterine cancer
• Not having children or having your first child after the age of 30
• Genetic abnormalities like BRAC1 or the BRAC2 gene mutation
• Early menstruation (before 12 years) or late menopause (after 55 years)

Symptoms
The symptoms of breast cancer in menopausal women can vary from individual to individual. However, there are a few common symptoms that everyone more or less experiences if they have the condition.

Change in the skin texture

• Scaly skin around the areola or nipples
• Thickening of the skin in any part of the breast
• Prolonged itching without any cause

Nipple discharge

• Thick or thin discharge
• Color may be milky, green, yellow, or red

Dimpling

• Lymph fluid buildup in the breast resulting in swelling
• Pitted or dimpling skin

Changes in the lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are small rounded immune system tissues useful for filtering fluids and capturing harmful cells, such as cancer cells, viruses, or bacteria. here are the following changes that may occur.

• When cancer cells move from the affected breast, these travel to the lymph nodes causing swelling
• You may also notice swelling around the collarbone
• These may feel like small, swollen, firm lumps and may be tender to touch

Nipple or breast pain

• While menopause results in the body becoming more sensitive, the breasts becoming extremely sensitive are a symptom of breast cancer
• You may feel discomfort, pain, or tenderness in the breast
• The pain may feel like a burning sensation

Nipple inversion or retraction

• Cancer cells may invert or reverse the nipple inwards
• Nipples may appear different in its sizes

Redness

• Skin appearance may change making it discolored or bruised
• The color of the skin may seem purple or red or may have a bluish tinge

Swelling

• Symptoms of breast cancer in menopausal women may result in the swelling of the entire or part of the breast
• Even if there is no distinct lump, the shape of the affected breast may seem different from the other one
• The skin may also feel tight because of the swelling

Although some of the aforementioned symptoms may happen due to other reasons, such as infections or trauma, you must not ignore these and consult your physician.