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

In addition, but less frequently, 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)
• A dimpling of the skin

If you notice any change in the normal 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 they need to be sampled and viewed under a microscope.

Updated 1/27/2009