Breast Cancer Symptoms: Early Signs & Warning Signs

Quick Glance: Common Breast Cancer Symptoms

Common breast cancer symptoms or warning signs may include:

A new lump or thickened area in the breast
Swelling or a lump in the breast, chest, or armpit
A change in the size or shape of one breast
Dimpling, puckering, redness, or thickening of the breast skin
A change in the shape or appearance of the nipple, including inversion
Unusual nipple discharge, which may contain blood
Persistent scaling, crusting, or a rash around the nipple
An orange-peel or pitted appearance of the breast skin

Breast pain can occur, but pain alone is not usually a typical sign of breast cancer. Any new or unusual breast or nipple change should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Breast Cancer Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

New or persistent breast changes should be assessed because they can have several causes, including breast cancer and non-cancerous conditions. Some symptoms of breast cancer that should not be ignored are:

Symptom	What It May Indicate
New breast lump or thickened area	A breast mass or another change in breast tissue that needs evaluation
A lump or swelling in the armpit	An enlarged lymph node or another local condition
New nipple inversion	A change in the tissues behind or around the nipple
Bloody or unexplained nipple discharge	A change involving the milk ducts or other breast tissue
Dimpling or puckering of the breast skin	Changes in tissue beneath the skin that may pull the skin inward
Persistent redness, swelling, or warmth	Inflammation, infection, or, less commonly, inflammatory breast cancer
Orange-peel or pitted breast skin	Swelling and changes in lymphatic drainage within the breast
Persistent scaling or crusting around the nipple	Skin disease, or, less commonly, Paget disease of the breast

Why Do Breast Cancer Symptoms Occur?

Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in breast tissue grow uncontrollably and form a tumour. Breast cancer cells can begin in the milk ducts or milk-producing lobules. As a tumour grows, it can change the surrounding breast tissue and create a lump or area of thickening.

Changes in breast shape or skin can occur when a tumour affects the tissues that support the breast. This can cause dimpling, puckering, or changes in the position of the nipple.

Inflammatory breast cancer causes different changes. Cancer cells can block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast, causing fluid to build up. This can lead to rapid swelling, redness, warmth and an orange-peel appearance of the skin.

Nipple symptoms depend on where the cancer develops. Changes involving the milk ducts can cause nipple discharge, while Paget disease affects the nipple and areola and may cause persistent redness, scaling, itching, or crusting.

Breast Cancer Symptoms That Require Prompt Medical Assessment

Some breast changes can develop quickly and should be assessed promptly, particularly when they are new or getting worse. These symptoms include:

Rapid swelling or enlargement of one breast
Redness, warmth, or swelling affecting a large area of the breast
New orange-peel or pitted skin
A newly inverted or retracted nipple
Unexplained or bloody nipple discharge
A breast or armpit lump that is increasing in size
Persistent nipple or areola changes, such as scaling or crusting

Rapid breast swelling, redness and skin thickening can occur with inflammatory breast cancer, although infections and other conditions can also cause similar changes. Therefore, these symptoms should be assessed by a healthcare professional rather than self-diagnosed.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer Based on Type

The table below presents different types of breast cancers and their symptoms:

Type	Symptoms
Invasive Breast Cancer	Breast lump or thickening, change in breast shape, nipple inversion, skin dimpling, or enlarged nearby lymph nodes
Inflammatory Breast Cancer	Rapid breast swelling, redness, warmth, heaviness, skin thickening, or orange-peel appearance; a distinct lump may not be present
Paget Disease of the Breast	Persistent redness, scaling, itching, or crusting of the nipple or areola, sometimes with nipple discharge or flattening

Breast Cancer Symptoms in Men

Common warning signs of breast cancer in men include:

A firm lump or swelling in the chest or armpit
Nipple discharge, which may contain blood
A change in the size or shape of either side of the chest
A nipple that turns inward
A persistent rash or change in the nipple
A sore or ulcer on the skin of the chest

These changes do not necessarily mean cancer. But a new or unusual lump, nipple discharge, or skin change should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Breast Cancer Symptoms in Women

Breast changes can occur naturally in women during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or other hormonal changes. However, a new or persistent change that is unusual should be assessed by a doctor.

Warning signs of breast cancer in women can include:

A new breast or armpit lump
A change in breast size or shape
Dimpling, puckering, or thickening of the skin
A change in the nipple, including inversion
Unusual nipple discharge
Persistent redness, scaling, or crusting around the nipple
Swelling or an orange-peel appearance of the breast skin

Breast pain alone is not usually a typical sign of breast cancer, but persistent pain alongside other breast or nipple changes should be assessed by a doctor.

Can You Have Breast Cancer Without Symptoms?

Yes. Breast cancer can develop without causing a noticeable lump, nipple change, or skin abnormality, particularly in its early stages. Some breast cancers are found during screening before a person notices any symptoms. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), in which abnormal cells remain within a milk duct, may be detected on mammography before noticeable breast changes develop.

Regular screening can help detect some breast cancers before recognisable signs or symptoms appear. However, screening does not replace medical assessment of a new breast change.

When Can Breast Cancer Symptoms Become Life-Threatening?

The table below explains when breast cancer symptoms can become life-threatening:

Advanced Complication	Symptoms
Lung involvement	Persistent cough, worsening breathlessness, or difficulty breathing
Brain metastases	Severe or persistent headache, seizures, weakness, vision changes, or other neurological symptoms
Bone metastases	Persistent or severe bone pain, weakness, or fractures
Liver involvement	Abdominal swelling, jaundice, loss of appetite, or other signs of reduced liver function

How are Breast Cancer Symptoms Diagnosed?

Doctors assess breast symptoms using a combination of clinical examination, imaging, and, when needed, tissue testing. The following table lists the diagnostic tests used to detect breast cancer:

Diagnostic Test or Assessment	Purpose
Clinical Breast Examination	Checks the breast, nipple, skin and nearby lymph nodes for unusual changes
Diagnostic Mammogram	Uses X-rays to examine breast tissue for masses, calcifications and other abnormalities
Breast Ultrasound	Examines a breast lump or abnormal area and helps distinguish solid areas from fluid-filled cysts
Breast MRI	Provides detailed breast images when further assessment is needed
Core Needle Biopsy	Removes a small tissue sample for examination by a pathologist
Biomarker Testing	Checks tumour tissue for markers such as estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2
Staging Imaging	Assesses possible spread beyond the breast when indicated by clinical findings

Not everyone needs every test. The investigations used depend on the breast change, examination findings and results of earlier tests. A biopsy can help confirm whether breast cancer cells are present.

FAQs

Q1. What is usually the first symptom of breast cancer?

Ans: A new breast lump or thickened area is one of the first symptoms of breast cancer. However, some people may first notice a nipple change, skin change, or swelling in the armpit.
Q2. Can breast cancer develop without a lump?

Ans: Yes. Breast cancer does not always cause a noticeable lump. Changes such as nipple inversion, skin dimpling, redness, or unusual discharge may occur instead.
Q3. Can breast cancer occur without symptoms?

Ans: Yes. Some breast cancers cause no noticeable symptoms in the early stages and may be detected through screening before a person notices a change.
Q4. Does breast cancer cause pain?

Ans: Breast pain alone is not usually a typical symptom of breast cancer. However, pain occurring with a new lump or another unusual breast or nipple change should be assessed.
Q5. What skin changes can occur with breast cancer?

Ans: Possible skin changes include dimpling, puckering, redness, thickening and an orange-peel appearance can occur with breast cancer. Persistent skin changes should be assessed because they can have several causes.
Q6. Are breast cancer symptoms different in men and women?

Ans: Many warning symptoms of breast cancer are similar in men and women, including lumps, nipple changes, discharge and skin changes. Men may notice a lump or swelling in the chest or armpit, while women may notice changes in the breast, nipple, or surrounding skin.
Q7. What are the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer?

Ans: Inflammatory breast cancer can cause rapid breast swelling, redness, warmth, heaviness and thickening or an orange-peel appearance of the skin. However, a distinct lump may not be present.
Q8. Which breast cancer symptoms need prompt medical assessment?

Ans: A new breast or armpit lump, nipple inversion, unusual or bloody discharge, persistent nipple or skin changes, or rapid breast swelling are some breast cancer symptoms that should be assessed by a healthcare professional.