Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLumpsSkin ChangesBreast Shape and SizeNipple Changes or DischargePain
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lumps
Skin Changes
Breast Shape and Size
Nipple Changes or Discharge
Pain
The earliest signs of breast cancer are breast skin changes, size and shape changes, nipple discharge, breast lumps, and breast pain.Abnormal cells will rapidly divide and accumulate, forming a breast lump and spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated. Some people may experience lymph node changes under the arm or near the collarbone.
Many people don’t have symptoms ofbreast cancer, which can make an early diagnosis difficult. Regular mammogram screenings can improve the chances of finding amalignant tumorin its early stages. Keep in mind that not all findings will be cancer.
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Abreast lumpor mass is the most common sign of breast cancer, but not all lumps are cancerous. According to the American Cancer Society, painless, hard masses with irregular edges are more likely to be cancer.
Cancerous lumps can also be soft, tender, or painful. The lump location can be on the breast, near a nipple, or in the armpit.
A 2017 study of 2,316 people found that 83% reported a breast lump as the first sign or symptom they noted. The same study found that females tend to ignore breast cancer signs that aren’t lumps.
Breast Self-Exams
A monthlybreast self-examused to be a recommended practice for females but is now considered optional.It is still important to know and report any changes to a healthcare provider. While standing, showering, or lying down, you should:
Next, stand up and use a mirror to look at your breasts directly. Look for changes in skin texture, note the shape, size, and outline of each breast, and check to see if either nipple is turned inward. Repeat the same steps with your arms raised above your head.
It is possible to have breast changes at different points in your life—before and after monthly periods, during pregnancy, and after menopause.Still, you should report to your healthcare provider any changes to your breast’s size, outline, or shape, as these might besigns of breast cancer.
A healthcare provider can assess any changes and properly diagnose you. Breast changes in size and shape to look for include:
Screening GuidelinesThe United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that females at average risk of breast cancer get mammograms every other year starting at age 40.Those who are at high risk (with family history or genetic mutation) may need more frequent screening. Transgender or intersex people should ask a healthcare provider whether they should be screened for breast cancer. Mammograms are generally not done to screen males unless risk factors exist.
Screening Guidelines
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that females at average risk of breast cancer get mammograms every other year starting at age 40.Those who are at high risk (with family history or genetic mutation) may need more frequent screening. Transgender or intersex people should ask a healthcare provider whether they should be screened for breast cancer. Mammograms are generally not done to screen males unless risk factors exist.
Still, visible nipple changes that could be early cancer signs include:
No type of nipple discharge is normal for males. If it occurs, seek immediate medical help.
Breast Cancer StatisticsThe American Cancer Society estimates 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer in females in 2024, on average at age 62 although younger people are diagnosed. About 42,250 females would die from breast cancer.They also estimated 2,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 530 deaths in males.It is crucial for people of any sex to pay attention to breast changes to spot differences early.
Breast Cancer Statistics
The American Cancer Society estimates 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer in females in 2024, on average at age 62 although younger people are diagnosed. About 42,250 females would die from breast cancer.They also estimated 2,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 530 deaths in males.It is crucial for people of any sex to pay attention to breast changes to spot differences early.
There are many harmless causes of breast pain and tenderness, such as:
If you experience breast or nipple pain related to cancer, you might also have inflammation of the breast tissue or underarm region, along with other breast cancer symptoms.
Contact a healthcare provider if you have breast pain that includes swelling of all or most of the breast, skin irritation, a lump or mass, nipple discharge other than breast milk, and other symptoms that might be related to breast cancer.
Breast or nipple pain is rarely a cause for serious concern. Yet in a 2017 study, only 6% of females reported breast pain as a primary, early symptom of breast cancer.Be sure to identify and report all breast symptoms.
Summary
Breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells, typically but not always affecting females. The earliest signs of breast cancer include a new lump in the breast or armpit, tissue swelling, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, nipple changes, breast size or shape changes, and occasionally pain.
Early detection and aggressive treatment are significant factors in determining the outlook for someone diagnosed with cancer. Breast cancer can be treated and cured during its early stages, so talk to your healthcare provider about symptoms and screenings.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, et al.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol. 2017;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010Providence Portland Medical Center.Ask an expert: Breast cancer growth rate.Roche.The symptoms of breast cancer: Eight signs of cancer you might not know about.National Cancer Institute.Paget’s disease of the breast.American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.MedlinePlus.Breast self-exam.Katulski K, Katulski A, Nykowska A, Beutler K, Kozielek K, Antczak S,et al.Physiological changes in the mammary glands during a female’s life.Pol J Radiol. 2024 Aug 9;89:e386-e390. doi:10.5114/pjr/189566US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer in men.National Cancer Institute.Breast changes and conditions.Sood N.Cytological evaluation in males presenting with bloody nipple discharge, with or without breast mass: report of two cases depicting two poles of the disease spectrum.Diagn Cytopathol. 2019;47(2):121-126. doi:10.1002/dc.24080American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer in men.Susan G. Komen.Inflammatory Breast Cancer.National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.Breast pain.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, et al.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol. 2017;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010Providence Portland Medical Center.Ask an expert: Breast cancer growth rate.Roche.The symptoms of breast cancer: Eight signs of cancer you might not know about.National Cancer Institute.Paget’s disease of the breast.American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.MedlinePlus.Breast self-exam.Katulski K, Katulski A, Nykowska A, Beutler K, Kozielek K, Antczak S,et al.Physiological changes in the mammary glands during a female’s life.Pol J Radiol. 2024 Aug 9;89:e386-e390. doi:10.5114/pjr/189566US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer in men.National Cancer Institute.Breast changes and conditions.Sood N.Cytological evaluation in males presenting with bloody nipple discharge, with or without breast mass: report of two cases depicting two poles of the disease spectrum.Diagn Cytopathol. 2019;47(2):121-126. doi:10.1002/dc.24080American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer in men.Susan G. Komen.Inflammatory Breast Cancer.National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.Breast pain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, et al.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol. 2017;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010Providence Portland Medical Center.Ask an expert: Breast cancer growth rate.Roche.The symptoms of breast cancer: Eight signs of cancer you might not know about.National Cancer Institute.Paget’s disease of the breast.American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.MedlinePlus.Breast self-exam.Katulski K, Katulski A, Nykowska A, Beutler K, Kozielek K, Antczak S,et al.Physiological changes in the mammary glands during a female’s life.Pol J Radiol. 2024 Aug 9;89:e386-e390. doi:10.5114/pjr/189566US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer in men.National Cancer Institute.Breast changes and conditions.Sood N.Cytological evaluation in males presenting with bloody nipple discharge, with or without breast mass: report of two cases depicting two poles of the disease spectrum.Diagn Cytopathol. 2019;47(2):121-126. doi:10.1002/dc.24080American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer in men.Susan G. Komen.Inflammatory Breast Cancer.National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.Breast pain.
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer signs and symptoms.
Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, et al.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol. 2017;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010
Providence Portland Medical Center.Ask an expert: Breast cancer growth rate.
Roche.The symptoms of breast cancer: Eight signs of cancer you might not know about.
National Cancer Institute.Paget’s disease of the breast.
American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.
MedlinePlus.Breast self-exam.
Katulski K, Katulski A, Nykowska A, Beutler K, Kozielek K, Antczak S,et al.Physiological changes in the mammary glands during a female’s life.Pol J Radiol. 2024 Aug 9;89:e386-e390. doi:10.5114/pjr/189566
US Preventive Services Task Force, Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, et al.Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA. Published online April 30, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.5534
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Breast cancer in men.
National Cancer Institute.Breast changes and conditions.
Sood N.Cytological evaluation in males presenting with bloody nipple discharge, with or without breast mass: report of two cases depicting two poles of the disease spectrum.Diagn Cytopathol. 2019;47(2):121-126. doi:10.1002/dc.24080
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for breast cancer in men.
Susan G. Komen.Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.Breast pain.
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