Being aware of common breast symptoms, and knowing how to properly check your breasts can help you identify changes early, and receive fast and effective diagnosis and treatment.
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Cancer, cysts, abscesses, mastitis, gynaecomastia and fibroadenoma are conditions that commonly affect the breasts. At Welbeck, our breast specialists can check any symptoms using gold-standard diagnostics so that you receive a fast and accurate diagnosis, and can start treatment as quickly as possible if necessary.
On this page, you’ll find helpful information on the symptoms of the most common breast conditions, how to check your breasts, and the breast health services we offer here at Welbeck.
For most of us, when we think about breast health and checking our breasts, we think about lumps.
Breast lumps are very common, with more than 25% of women experiencing them during their lifetime. Fortunately, most of these will be non-cancerous, with only 10% of new lumps being diagnosed as breast cancer.
That said, it’s important to always remain vigilant and report any lumps, as well as any other breast symptoms, to a breast health specialist. Knowing the symptoms of breast cancer can help you get an early diagnosis, improving your chances of successful treatment.
We recommend visiting Welbeck for a comprehensive breast assessment if you notice any of the following symptoms of breast cancer:
a lump or thickening in your breast or armpit that feels different to the rest of the breast tissue
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 pain or discomfort in one part of your breast or armpit
dimpling or puckering – the skin on your breast may be puckered or dimpled, which can look like orange peel
redness – your skin may appear red and may feel warmer than the surrounding tissue
tethering – your skin may appear sunken or concave when a lump is examined
fixation – the skin over a lump may be unable to be pinched, suggesting it is fused to the skin
swelling under your armpit or around your collarbone
a nipple that becomes inverted or changes shape or position
discolouration, a rash or change in appearance of your nipple(s) – this includes eczema, where an itchy, dry rash develops around the areola
discharge of any colour from your nipple(s) (outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding)
Generally, a lump is the first noticeable symptom of breast cancer. However, in the very early stages, breast cancer often shows no symptoms. This is why it’s important to attend annual mammogram screenings after the age of 40. If we can diagnose breast cancer before any symptoms are felt, the cancer will be very small and the treatment less invasive.
A breast cyst is a non-cancerous (benign), fluid-filled sac in your breast. They’re one of the most common causes of a lump in the breast, with around 7% of women developing one in their lifetime.
A breast cyst can feel very similar to a breast cancer lump, which is why it’s important to always seek a medical diagnosis if you notice any breast changes.
Breast cysts can be:
a soft or hard, oval or round lump in the breast that has developed quickly
a few millimetres up to several centimetres in size
unnoticeable, or uncomfortable or painful
singular or in clusters
in one or both breasts
larger before your period and smaller after
At Welbeck, our consultant radiologists can make a diagnosis of breast cysts during a breast ultrasound examination to assess your breast tissue. They’ll also be able to identify the type of breast cyst you have, which will help them determine the best course of treatment.
The 3 types of breast cyst are:
simple breast cyst – these make up around 90% of all breast cysts and are always non-cancerous
complex breast cyst – around 20% of cases lead to a diagnosis of breast cancer
complicated breast cyst – less than 2% of this type of cyst is diagnosed as cancerous
A pea-sized breast lump is often diagnosed as a cyst, rather than cancer. But, breast lumps and other symptoms can also indicate:
breast abscess – this is a painful build-up of pus in the breast caused by an infection. It mainly affects women who are breastfeeding. An ultrasound scan will be performed to confirm the abscess, and the pus will then be drained through a needle
mastitis – this is most common in breastfeeding women and causes breast tenderness and pain, skin redness, a rash, and feeling hot with flu-like symptoms
gynaecomastia – this is an increase in the amount of breast gland tissue in men, causing one or both breasts to look larger than normal. Swelling may be painful or tender
fibroadenoma – this is typically a rubbery-feeling, painless lump with a well-defined round or oval shape. It’s easy to move around under the skin as opposed to being stuck in one place. An ultrasound scan will be performed and a needle test carried out to confirm
Your breasts are made up of fat, lymph nodes, veins, nerves and milk systems. It’s completely normal for breast tissue to have a lumpy, bumpy texture. It can also be normal to have denser or thicker areas of tissue.
We say that you should “get to know” your own breasts so that you know what’s normal for you; you are the best person to notice any changes and realise when something feels new or different.
You can check your breasts by following these 3 steps:
Look at your breasts in the mirror with your arms by your sides. Do you notice any changes? Raise your arms and look again for any changes such as dimpling, discomfort or a change in shape. Take care to look underneath your breasts.
With the pads of your fingers, feel your way across your breast tissue, moving in a circular motion. Use both light and firm pressure, and remember to check up to your collarbone and under each armpit.
Feel around and over each nipple, and look for changes such as discharge, a rash and inversion. You may find it easier to feel your breasts when showering or lying down.
Watch the video below for more guidance on what to look for when you check your breasts.
You should check your breasts for changes every month, at around the time in your menstrual cycle – 7 to 10 days after your period starts is recommended.
Your breasts will look and feel different at points throughout your menstrual cycle, so checking them regularly can help you learn what looks and feels normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes that could be a sign of breast cancer.
We also recommend that all women over the age of 40 attend a mammogram every year to be screened for breast cancer.
For women over 40 who do not have any symptoms, we recommend having a screening every 18 months with our unique enhanced breast screening service.
If you have dense breasts or if you’re under 40 years old and have a family history of breast cancer, we also offer breast ultrasound scanning.
If you notice a lump in your breast or any other symptoms listed above, contact us straight away to book an appointment with one of our breast specialists.
At Welbeck, we offer an advanced diagnostic service called breast triple assessment. This involves 3 types of tests to screen for and diagnose breast cancer: an initial assessment, imaging, and a biopsy if needed. With this rapid diagnostic service, you’ll receive the results of your imaging in the same visit, and if a biopsy is performed, these results will be available within 72 hours.
At Welbeck, our breast specialists are leaders in their field and offer a range of services to ensure you receive the care and treatment you need.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Get in touch today to book an appointment.
We recommend booking a breast triple assessment as soon as possible if you notice any of the breast changes or symptoms listed on this page.
It’s important to check your breasts regularly so that you know what’s normal for you and can identify any changes as soon as they happen. However, checking too often can make it harder to notice subtle changes. Try to check your breasts once a month.
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You can read more about what to look out for with changes in your breast by downloading our simple guide: