Symptoms

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Women with breast cancer may experience breast changes, but many women do not have any signs or symptoms when diagnosed.

Often, breast changes or symptoms can be caused by a medical condition that is not cancer.

Signs and symptoms that should be discussed with your physician include:

• A lump that feels like a hard knot or a thickening in the breast or under the arm
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Nipple discharge that occurs suddenly, is bloody or occurs in only one breast
• Physical changes, such as a nipple turned inward or a sore in the nipple area
• Skin irritation or changes, such as puckering, dimpling, scaliness or new creases
• Warm, red, swollen breasts, with or without a rash, with dimpling resembling the skin of an orange, called peau d'orange
• Pain in the breast, particularly breast pain that doesn’t go away (pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer, but it should be reported to your physician)