However, a new or persistent lump in either the breast or armpit should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Do not rely on whether the lump is painful, movable, or hard to decide whether it is dangerous. These characteristics cannot reliably distinguish benign from malignant growths.
A clinician can determine which examinations or imaging tests are appropriate.
2. Unexplained Swelling or a Change in Breast Shape
A breast that suddenly becomes larger, swollen, or visibly different from the other may require assessment.
Changes can result from hormonal fluctuations, infection, injury, or benign conditions.
However, some breast cancers can cause swelling without producing a clearly defined lump.
Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon but aggressive form of the disease that can cause rapid swelling, redness, warmth, and changes in skin texture.
The affected breast may look larger or feel heavier than usual.
Because these symptoms can resemble an infection, persistent or rapidly worsening changes require prompt medical evaluation rather than prolonged self-treatment.
3. Skin Dimpling or an Orange-Peel Appearance
The skin over the breast should generally maintain its usual texture.
A new indentation, pulling sensation, or area where the skin appears dimpled may indicate an underlying change in breast tissue.
In some cases, a tumor can affect the structures that support the skin, causing the surface to pull inward.
Another possible sign is peau d'orange, a French term meaning "orange peel." The skin develops visible pores and a thickened texture resembling the surface of an orange.
This appearance can occur when fluid accumulates in the skin because lymphatic drainage is impaired. In some cases, it is associated with inflammatory breast cancer.
Skin dimpling does not always indicate cancer, but a new or persistent change should be examined.
4. New Nipple Inversion or Retraction
Some people naturally have nipples that point inward.
However, a nipple that newly turns inward, becomes flattened, or appears pulled toward the breast may signal an underlying condition that needs evaluation.
Possible causes include benign changes, inflammation, scarring, and breast cancer.
The timing of the change matters. A feature that has existed for many years is different from a new alteration that develops without an obvious explanation.
If a nipple changes shape or direction, particularly on one side, arrange a medical assessment.
Do not attempt to diagnose the cause by repeatedly pressing or manipulating the nipple.
5. Unusual Nipple Discharge
Nipple discharge can occur for several reasons, including hormonal changes, medication effects, infection, and benign growths within the milk ducts.
Certain patterns deserve particular attention.
Discharge that occurs spontaneously, comes from only one breast, or appears bloody or clear may require investigation.
A clinician may consider the person's age, pregnancy or breastfeeding status, medications, examination findings, and the characteristics of the discharge when deciding what tests are needed.
Milk production during pregnancy and breastfeeding is different from unexplained discharge outside those circumstances.
Not every episode of discharge indicates cancer, but spontaneous or bloody discharge should not be ignored.
6. Persistent Redness, Scaling, or Thickening
Breast skin can become irritated by clothing, detergents, eczema, or other common skin conditions.
However, persistent redness, swelling, thickening, or scaling around the nipple may sometimes be associated with a breast condition requiring further investigation.
Paget disease of the breast is an uncommon form of breast cancer that affects the skin of the nipple and may extend to the areola.
It can produce redness, itching, scaling, crusting, or a sore that does not heal as expected.
These symptoms are frequently mistaken for eczema, particularly when they begin gradually.
Most nipple skin irritation is not Paget disease, but persistent symptoms that do not improve with appropriate treatment should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
7. Persistent, Unexplained Changes in Sensation
Some women notice discomfort, tenderness, or a feeling of heaviness in one breast.
Breast pain is common and is often associated with menstrual cycles or benign conditions. Pain alone is not a reliable predictor of breast cancer.
However, persistent localized pain or a new sensation accompanied by a lump, swelling, skin changes, or nipple abnormalities deserves medical attention.
A change in sensation is more informative when considered alongside other findings than when treated as an isolated symptom.
Women should avoid interpreting every brief twinge or temporary tenderness as evidence of cancer.
Instead, they should pay attention to persistent changes that differ from their usual pattern and discuss them with a clinician.
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Arrange a medical appointment if you notice a new lump, persistent thickening, unexplained breast swelling, a newly inverted nipple, unusual discharge, skin dimpling, or another significant change.
Seek prompt medical assessment for rapidly developing redness, swelling, warmth, or skin changes, particularly when they affect one breast.
These symptoms can have causes other than cancer, including infections that may require treatment.
Do not wait for several symptoms to appear together before seeking advice. A single new and unexplained change can be sufficient reason for an examination.
Early assessment does not mean that cancer is likely. It means that the cause should be established rather than guessed.
CHAPTER 3: WHO IS AT GREATER RISK, AND WHY BREAST CANCER DOES NOT AFFECT EVERYONE THE SAME WAY
Breast cancer can occur in people with different backgrounds, lifestyles, and medical histories.
Some individuals have well-established risk factors, while others develop the disease without any obvious reason.
Understanding risk can help people make informed decisions about screening and preventive care, but risk factors cannot predict with certainty who will develop breast cancer.