This page tells you about the symptoms of breast cancer. There are sections on :
- Breast lumps in general
- What to look out for
- If you spot a lump
- Breast pain
- More information
Breast lumps in general
The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast. But 9 out of 10 breast lumps (90%) are benign. That means they are not cancers. Most benign breast lumps are :
- Areas of benign breast change, causing lumpiness that is more obvious just before a period, particularly in women over 35
- Cysts - sacs of fluid in the breast tissue. These are quite common
- Fibroadenoma - a collection of fibrous glandular tissue. These are more common in younger women
What to look out for
Changes that could be due to a breast cancer are :
- A lump or thickening in an area of the breast
- A change in the size or shape of a breast
- Dimpling of the skin
- A change in the shape of your nipple, particularly if it turns in, sinks into the breast or becomes irregular in shape
- A blood-stained discharge from the nipple
- A rash on a nipple or surrounding area
- A swelling or lump in your armpit
Like breast lumps, these signs don't necessarily mean cancer. Inverted nipples, blood stained nipple discharge or a rash can all be due to other medical conditions. But if any of these things happen to you, you should get it checked out. It may be nothing and seeing the GP will put your mind at rest. It may be a benign condition that can easily be treated. Or at the very worst, if you have a cancer you give yourself the best chance of successful treatment by going to the doctor early on.
There is a rare type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer which can have different symptoms. The whole breast can look red and inflamed and can be very sore. The breast may feel hard. The skin sometimes looks like orange peel because the pores stand out in the inflamed area.
Another rare type of breast cancer shows up as a rash on and around the nipple. It is called Paget's disease. The red, scaly rash can be itchy. It looks a bit like eczema and is sometimes mistaken for that at first.
If you spot a lump
See your doctor straight away. If you notice anything unusual about your breast, have it examined. Even though most breast lumps are benign, they need to be checked to rule out cancer. Our page on breast awareness shows how to learn what is normal for you.
Your doctor will examine you and if necessary, send you to a specialist breast clinic for further checks. At the clinic, they will be able to see on your mammogram or ultrasound if the lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid lump.
If it is a cyst, they may get rid of it by draining the fluid out through a fine needle. If it is a solid lump, they will stick a very fine needle into it and take a tissue sample to test for cancer cells.
Some women prefer to have benign lumps removed to relieve their worry. They may be concerned that they will confuse them with any other lumps they may get in the future. But if you and your doctor are confident that the lump is benign, you do not have to have it removed if you do not want to. Benign lumps don't turn into cancer.
If your lump is a cancer, the earlier you have breast cancer treatment, the better your chance of cure.
Breast pain
Pain doesn't usually mean cancer. Many healthy women find that their breasts feel lumpy and tender before a period. And some benign breast lumps are painful. Many women get pain in their breasts for a while, which goes after a time. There may be no obvious reason for the pain, even with lots of tests. Most breast pain is not caused by cancer, but some breast cancers do cause pain, so if you are worried, see your GP.
More information
Look at screening for breast cancer for information about
- Examining your own breasts
- Having a mammogram
- How cancer is diagnosed
- Why it's important to find out about it as early as possible
If you would like more information about anything to do with the symptoms of breast cancer, contact one of the breast cancer organisations listed in our help and support section.
The above information thankfully comes from the cancerhelp.org.uk at the following link.
