Breast cancer symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Some patients will notice a breast change, while others won’t have any symptoms, with the condition first being identified through a routine mammogram.
It’s important to check your breasts regularly for changes, as early detection is key to successful breast cancer treatment.
Your breasts will look and feel different at various points throughout your menstrual cycle, so get to know what’s normal for you, and check your breasts at the same point in your cycle each month – 7 to 10 days after your period starts is recommended.
Symptoms of breast cancer to look out for when checking your breasts include:
a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
a change in the size, shape, or feel of your breast
one breast becoming larger, lower or higher, or softer or firmer than the other breast
continuous breast pain in one part of your breast or armpit
a nipple that becomes inverted or changes shape or position
changes in the skin of your breasts, such as puckering, dimpling, a rash, or redness
swelling under your armpit or around your collarbone
a rash on or around your nipple
discharge from one or both nipples (outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding)
Breast cancer in men is rare, but the most common symptom is a firm lump in the breast tissue on one side of the body, which is usually painless.
Other symptoms in men may include:
oozing from the nipple (discharge may be blood-stained)
swelling of the breast tissue
a sore on the skin of the breast
a retracted nipple
lumps under the arm