Breast Cancer Symptoms

Early detection is key to treating and curing breast cancer. Many women regularly examine their breasts to look for common warning signs. These include:

• A painless lump in the breast
• Abnormal thickening of the breast tissue
• A change in the density of the breast

Less often, breast cancer can show up as:

• A lump under the arm
• Redness or scaliness of the skin on the breast
• A change in the nipple (such as discharge or inversion)
• Dimpling of the skin

If you notice any change in the usual feel, appearance, or texture of either of your breasts, you should schedule a clinical breast examination with your physician. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but the only way to know for sure is to do a biopsy to take a sample of cells and view them under a microscope.

Updated 8/10/2011