Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Updated on July 26, 2024
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Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, other than skin cancers. About 1 of every 8 American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
That’s why it’s so important to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Noticing any changes in your breasts early (in addition to getting regular mammograms) can improve your odds of successful treatment. Learn more about warning signs to look for and when to take action.
Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer can vary among different women, and many women do not notice any changes at all.
However, if they do notice any signs or symptoms, they usually involve some kind of change in the look or feel of the breast or nipple.
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The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A cancerous mass is more likely to be painless, hard, and have irregular edges. However, a mass that is soft, round, tender, or painful can also be cancer. It’s also important to note that most breast lumps are not cancer.
Most early-stage breast cancers in the United States are found with screening mammography (mammograms) before any signs or symptoms appear. However, some people do have warning signs.
In addition to a new lump or mass, if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for a visit:
- Any thickening (increased density or firmness) in the breast tissue in or near the breast or underarm area
- A change in skin texture or enlarged pores in the skin of the breast or nipple (may resemble an orange peel)
- Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast, or breasts suddenly seem asymmetrical
- Dimpling anywhere on the breast
- Unexplained swelling of the breast (especially on one side only)
- Unexplained shrinkage of the breast (especially on one side only)
- Nipple is tender, or turned slightly inward or inverted
- The skin of the breast, areola (darker skin surrounding the nipple), or nipple has become scaly, red, or swollen
- Any nipple discharge, especially clear or bloody discharge
Most women will initially notice only one or two of these signs or symptoms, if they notice any changes at all. However, in most cases, having these signs and symptoms does not mean that you have breast cancer.
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The Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
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Symptoms of Paget Disease of the Breast
Paget disease of the breast (also called Paget disease of the breast, Paget's disease, Paget disease of the nipple, and mammary Paget disease) is a rare type of breast cancer that affects the skin of the nipple and the areola. About 1 to 4 percent of all breast cancer cases also involve Paget disease of the breast.
In Paget disease of the breast, cancerous cells called Paget cells are found in the surface layer of the skin of the nipple and the areola. Most people diagnosed with Paget disease of the breast have one or more tumors in the same breast.
Symptoms typically start in the nipple area and gradually spread to the areola, and sometimes to the skin surrounding the areola.
Symptoms of Paget disease may include:
- Itching, tingling, or redness in the nipple or areola area
- Flaking, crusty, or thickened skin on or around the nipple
- Flattening of the nipple
- Yellowish or bloody nipple discharge
Paget disease of the breast may be mistaken for a skin condition, such as eczema. Most people who have Paget disease of the breast also have underlying cancer in the milk ducts of the breast (ductal carcinoma).
Your prognosis is based on the stage of the cancer when it’s detected. If you only have Paget disease of the nipple or ductal carcinoma in situ (or DCIS, which is considered the earliest stage breast cancer) that hasn’t spread beyond the milk ducts, your prognosis is excellent. Early detection and treatment increase your odds of a full recovery, which is why knowing the signs and symptoms is so important.
Symptoms of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer that develops quickly. However, it often does not cause a breast lump, and may not show up on a mammogram.
IBC occurs more often in younger women (younger than age 40) and women who are overweight or have obesity. Black women appear to have a higher risk of IBC than white women. Signs and symptoms of IBC include:
- Swelling of the skin of the breast
- Redness that affects more than one-third of the breast
- Pitting or thickening of the skin of the breast so that it may look and feel like an orange peel
- A retracted or inverted nipple
- One breast looking larger than the other because of swelling
- One breast feeling warmer and heavier than the other
- A breast that may be tender, painful, or itchy
- Swelling of the lymph nodes under the arms or near the collarbone
IBC is more likely to have already spread by the time that it’s been found, and it’s more likely to return after treatment than most other types of breast cancer.
The Takeaway
Since early detection of breast cancer gives you a better chance of successful treatment, it’s important to have regular mammograms. It’s recommended that you begin getting these annual screenings at age 45 if you have an average risk for breast cancer, but you have the option to begin getting them at age 40.
It’s also important to know what your breasts normally look and feel like and perform monthly breast self-exams, so you’ll be more able to notice any unusual changes in your breasts.
While most breast changes are not cancer, it’s important to have any new signs or symptoms checked out by your doctor.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: Breast Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
- National Breast Cancer Foundation: Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms
- Susan G. Komen: Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
- Mayo Clinic: Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
Meet Our Experts
Lisa D. Curcio, MD, FACS
Medical Reviewer
Lisa Curcio, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon and a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist. She is currently the medical director of breast surgery at Northern Dutchess Hos...
Tara Haelle
Author
With two decades of reporting experience under her belt, Tara Haelle has written for a range of publications, including National Geographic, The New York Times, Texas Monthly, Scie...
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Key Statistics for Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. January 17, 2024.
- Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms. American Cancer Society. January 14, 2022.
- Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms. National Breast Cancer Foundation. January 17, 2024.
- Warning Signs of Breast Cancer. Susan G. Komen. May 16, 2024.
- Jamie DePolo. Paget Disease of the Breast. BreastCancer.org. February 2, 2023.
- Paget’s Disease of the Breast. Cleveland Clinic. October 2, 2022.
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. March 1, 2023.
- American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. American Cancer Society. December 19, 2023.