Signs
“I don’t feel any lumps or bumps, so I don’t have breast cancer.” You can have breast cancer long before you can feel it with your fingers. And, breast cancer does not always come in the form of a lump or bump. Any type of change in the breast, nipple, or skin can be an early sign of breast cancer including:
• A change in how the breast or nipple feels
• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
• Nipple tenderness
• A change in how the breast or nipple looks
• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• A nipple turned inward into the breast
• The skin of the breast, areola, or nipple may be scaly, red, or swollen. It may have ridges or pitting so that it looks like the skin of an orange.
• Nipple discharge (fluid)
• Swollen lymph nodes under the arm
You can have breast cancer with no signs at all. That’s why it is important to have regular mammograms and immediately report any changes you notice in your breasts to your doctor.