Symptoms of Breast Cancer
by Beth G. Hodges, MD

Symptoms of breast cancer are varied, and development of any of these symptoms should quickly prompt a visit to the doctor. Below is a brief listing of concerning signs and symptoms.

The most obvious concern would be a lump or mass in the breast or armpit. Of note, cancerous lesions are usually painless, whereas cysts, abscesses, and other noncancerous lesions are often painful to the touch.

A new indention on the breast is of concern, as is thickening of the skin of the breast to the texture resembling an orange peel.

A woman who notes new development of an inverted nipple should seek medical attention. Please note that nipples that have always been inverted are not of concern. Burning, itching, or scaling of the skin of the nipple is of concern, however.

Bloody discharge from the nipple, especially in a woman beyond childbearing age, should be presumed to be cancer until proven otherwise and always needs to be investigated.

Other breast cancer symptoms include sudden persistent breast pain (though in a menstruating female this is more likely to be due to no cancerous reasons), swelling of the breast or in the armpit, reddening of the breast mimicking infection, or a pulling of the breast to one side or another.

Once one or more symptoms of breast cancer have resulted in a visit to the doctor, this should prompt ordering of a mammogram and possibly an ultrasound. Most of the time these tests can offer reassurance or focus on areas of concerns, but in a few instances, negative results do not mean no cancer.

Inflammatory breast cancer, a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer, can be invisible on mammogram and ultrasound and can only be diagnosed usually by biopsy.

Persistent bloody nipple discharge usually prompts progression to biopsy, even in the presence of initial negative tests.

Published - October, 2009