12 Symptoms of Breast Cancer: What it can look and feel like

A lump is not always easy to feel

The most common sign of breast cancer, a lump often feels hard (like a lemon seed). It can be any shape or size, but is not always easy to feel. Mammograms can detect a lump long before it can be felt. If you notice a hard lump, or any change, that doesn’t come and go with your menstrual cycle, don’t ignore it. The sooner breast cancer is found, the more easily it can be treated.

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Don’t confuse thickness with breast density

You may notice that a part of your breast feels different from the rest, being less squishy and more dense. This can be a normal part of menstruation or breast feeding, but a thickening in your breast that doesn’t go away or gets worse could be a sign of breast cancer.

Dimples that don’t go away can be a sign of breast cancer

Dimples are caused when a tumor (lump) deep in the breast pulls the skin inward, causing it to indent. Sometimes this lump can be felt, sometimes it can’t. A dimple can be more easily seen when lifting your arms above your head to see if the whole breast skin moves with you. Having a light source directly overhead can help cast shadows to show indents more clearly.

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Separating a normal skin condition from a troublesome symptom

Crust on the nipple can be a harmless skin condition, like eczema, or is a common problem with breastfeeding. But if skin remedies don’t fix the problem, it could be a sign of breast cancer called Paget’s Disease. This when cancer cells spread inside the breast and live in the nipple, creating a scab-like red or white crusted surface that can be sore and doesn’t go away.

Pain or itching is a common issue with breasts but sometimes it’s a concern

Breast pain is very common and most often harmless, usually related to hormones and menstrual cycle changes. However, if the pain is in one spot, persistent (doesn't change with your menstrual cycle) or gets worse, it should be checked out like any unexplained pain anywhere in your body. Pain is also more suspicious if another breast cancer symptom is present.

Like pain, itching in the breast is usually not a symptom of breast cancer. However, sometimes cancer can interfere with nerve endings, which causes an itching sensation that doesn't go away—such as with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC).

Fluid from the nipple outside of breast feeding isn’t normal

Discharge from the nipple is common and is harmless (benign) most of the time. It is usually related to developing breasts, infection, cysts, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. However, if fluid is leaking from the breast outside of these changes, it is something that should be checked out, especially if it is clear or contains blood.

Usually an advanced sign of breast cancer

Breast cancer can sometimes build up to the point that it breaks down the skin of the breast to form an open wound. Infection may cause a bad smell and/or leakage. This is usually accompanied by an obvious hard lump. This is an advanced sign of the disease, meaning it has been present for some time.

If it’s new and stays around, it should be checked out

Sometimes a cancerous lump is on the surface of the breast. But not all lumps and bumps are cancer. Many are cysts (fluid collections) or harmless lumps made of various tissue (fibroadenomas). Sometimes an injury can lead to a lump known as fat necrosis. This is scar tissue that can form when the body naturally repairs the damaged fatty breast tissue.

Keep an eye on your veins

Enlarged veins is one of the rarer symptoms of breast cancer and are often seen with normal skin changes. Newly appearing blood vessels or veins are more often connected to weight gain, breastfeeding and Mondor’s disease and are not usually a sign of cancer. However, if veins become more pronounced outside of these changes, on the breast or near the collarbone (and sometimes accompanied by a swollen arm), this could be a sign of a breast cancer tumor drawing more blood to itself and the vein swelling in size to allow for additional blood flow.

Watch for changes in nipple direction

Retracted nipples can be a normal shape of the breast, from when the breast was first developed. If you notice your nipple sinking, flattening or turning, it could be a sign of a new breast cancer tumor forming underneath, pulling the nipple toward it as it grows.

Be familiar with the normal shape and size of your breasts

It’s common for one breast to be different in size and shape from the other. Breastfeeding can also cause changes in size or shape as a result of milk production. But if one breast changes size, flattens, swells or droops unexpectedly — and doesn’t seem to be connected to your menstruation cycle — this could be a sign of breast cancer.

Skin changes could be a simple skin issue or something more suspicious

If a breast changes color (reddish or dark), texture (rash or dimpled skin) or feels warm, it is often a sign of infection, developing breasts, breastfeeding or eczema. If antibiotics or other treatments don’t resolve the issue, it may be a symptom of Inflammatory Breast Cancer. This symptom is difficult to see on a mammogram because it does not form an obvious lump.