What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
A breast lump
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast. Note: most breast lumps are not cancerous. Most breast lumps are fluid filled cysts or fibroadenomas (a clumping of glandular tissue) which are benign. However, you should always see a doctor if a lump develops as the breast lump may be cancerous.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms which may be noticed in the affected breast include:
- Changes in the size or shape of a breast.
- Dimpling or thickening of some of the skin on a part of a breast.
- The nipple becomes inverted (turns in).
- Rarely, a discharge from a nipple occurs (which may be bloodstained).
- A rare type of breast cancer causes a rash around the nipple which can look similar to a small patch of eczema.
- Rarely, pain in a breast. Note: pain is not a usual early symptom. Many women develop painful breasts (mastalgia) and this is not usually caused by cancer.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes (glands) in the armpit (axilla). If this occurs you may develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. If the cancer spreads to other parts of the body then various other symptoms can develop.
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Where to next?
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Free prescriptions for cancer patients
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What is the treatment for breast cancer?
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What causes breast cancer?
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What is cancer?
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The breasts
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What is breast cancer?
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Wendy Richard talks about her fight with cancer
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Painkillers may cut your risk of breast cancer
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Breast cancer: What you should know
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Breast cancer link with how much you drink
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Lapars, over 2 years
Heyy, just a bit worried , i have a little rash at the SIDE of my breast is this anything to worry about? wriggh back to a worried user:( x
Report this commentsara williams, over 2 years
i have on my left brest red mark it look like eczema at frist it look like broken vains and was ichy but now it looks like eczema maybe blitery but dry is this anythin to worry about
Report this commentlisa, over 2 years
hi have a lump inmy rigth breast its the size ofa ping pong ball i have nopain in it witch has been there for about 4 weeks and a little one under my left arm witch does hurt some times i have had the one under my arm for about 12 months cud this b cancer
Report this commentpat, over 2 years
Hi, I have large lump and swelling in my right breast which is very painful, I had not checked my breasts for a long time and recently had to have a chest x-ray as I had pain in my back, could this be cancer, I am terrified as I have a mammogram on monday, please advise me, love Pat.
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kim wright, about 1 year
hi, I am 22 years old there are a lot of different cancers that run through my family one is breast cancer. i am worried becouse i have got 6 lumps in my left breast, my breast has changed size (got bigger) and has also gone lower, the nipple has also got bigger changed shape and size (got bigger) and has moved slightly to one side also it changes colour, some days it is very dark others very light, the breast tissue under the nipple feels completly different to the other one for example 2 small lumps and a big dint i can put my finger in to.The breast is very sensitive and seems to hang differently to my right breast, i have been refered to the hospital 3 times and have filled in and sent off 2 cancer risk assesment forms, this has been going on for 5 months now and still have not been seen THANKS LOVE KIM
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