Symptoms Of Breast Cancer In Women

Main symptoms of breast cancer in women

Symptoms of breast cancer in women may include:

• a lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
• a change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (may look or feel like orange peel)
• a change in the colour of the skin on your breast - on black or brown skin it may look darker than usual, on white skin it may look red
• a change in size or shape of one or both breasts
• nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
• a change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema)

You may get pain in your breast or armpit with these symptoms. But you can have these symptoms without any pain.

Breast pain by itself is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.

It's important to check your breasts regularly so you know what's normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your breasts.

There's separate information about symptoms of breast cancer in men.

See a GP if:

Important

Some of these symptoms, including breast lumps, are very common and can be caused by other conditions.

Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have breast cancer, but it's important to get checked by a GP.

If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat.

Find out more about breast pain without other symptoms, what causes it, what you can do to ease it and when to see a GP.

Symptoms of secondary breast cancer

If breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body it's called secondary breast cancer.

The symptoms depend on which part of the body the cancer has spread to. It can spread anywhere, but it most commonly affects the bones, liver, lungs or brain.

You may also have general symptoms including:

• feeling tired or having no energy
• loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
• feeling unwell with no clear cause
• feeling or being sick
• difficulty sleeping

Find out more

• Breast Cancer Now: secondary breast cancer symptoms

What happens at your appointment

The GP will ask about your symptoms. They may also ask about any breast screening you've had before, and if anyone in your family has had breast cancer.

If you have a lump or unusual changes, the GP may ask to look at and examine your breasts.

You'll need to undress from the waist up, behind a screen. You can have a friend, family member or another member of staff in the room with you during the examination if you want.

Referral to a breast clinic

You may get a referral for more tests or to see a specialist at a breast clinic if the GP thinks you have symptoms that could be cancer. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

• Cancer Research UK: seeing your GP when you have symptoms of breast cancer

Sexual Health Advice

• Sexual Health Advice - Introduction and Overview
• The MenB vaccine that helps protect against gonorrhoea
• Sexual Health - Mpox and its dangers for Gay Men
• What happens when you visit an STI Clinic
• Ejaculation issues are common sexual problems in men
• The Male Menopause for men in their late 40s to early 50s
• Help and care if you have been Sexually Assaulted
• Mental health issues and self-harm are common amongst gay men