Signs and symptoms

A lump can appear in the breast, armpit area or around the collarbone. It may feel different from the tissue around it. Breast cancer doesn't tend to move around in the breast and breast cancers are usually not painful.

Mammograms can find breast cancer before a lump can be felt or seen. Checking your breasts shouldn’t replace having regular mammograms if you are eligible for screening.

If you notice any changes in your breasts, see a GP.

See a GP if a nipple:

• Begins to turn or pull inwards
• Points in a different direction
• Changes shape or position.

Some people have always had nipples that turn inwards. If you have a new change, you should get it checked.

Nipple changes can have several causes, such as inflammation or scarring, and are not always caused by breast cancer.

See if GP if fluid comes from your nipple without squeezing it.

The fluid could be any colour, not just blood-stained or clear. The absence of blood doesn't guarantee that it won’t be breast cancer.

Nipple discharge can have many causes, including birth control pills, medicines, infection or a non-cancerous growth. Whatever its appearance, you should get it checked.

Look for:

• A red or irritated rash
• Flaky, scaly or crusty skin
• Itching or burning around the nipple.

These changes can caused by eczema, breastfeeding, or be a reaction to a new soap. Less commonly, they may be a sign of a rare type of breast cancer called Paget's Disease of the Breast.

Other nipple changes, such as the nipple pointing in an unusual direction or changing shape, should also be checked.

A change beneath the skin can sometimes make part of the breast pull inwards. This may look like a dimple, pucker or dent.

These changes can appear anywhere on the breast, including underneath it.

A good way to check for these is by standing in front of the mirror and lifting your arms. If you notice any areas on your breasts where your skin pulls inwards, get them checked by a GP as soon as possible.

See a GP promptly if your breast, or part of it, becomes:

• Red, pink, or darker than usual
• Swollen, inflamed or warm
• Thickened or dimpled, like the skin of an orange
• Unusually heavy or achy.

These symptoms could be signs of inflammatory breast cancer, a rare type of breast cancer that can develop quickly. They may also be signs of an infection. If you are being treated for an infection and these symptoms don’t improve, go back to the doctor.

It’s common for one breast to be a different size or shape from the other. See a GP if you notice a new or unexplained change.

This could include:

• Swelling or shrinkage
• A new difference between your breasts
• A change in how your usual bra fits.

Many women experience breast tenderness shortly before they get their period. This is normal and usually settles after the period. Most breast cancers don't cause any pain in the early stages. If you experience unusual pain that isn't going away, see a GP promptly.