How to Recognize Breast Cancer Symptoms

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Over the course of a woman's lifetime, she may experience breast changes. While many end up being nothing to worry about, it's important to have any changes that you notice checked by a doctor -- just to be on the safe side. Here are the potential breast cancer symptoms to watch out for.

Warning
This video does not replace actual medical advice. Always consult your doctor with any questions or concerns.

Step 1: Do a monthly self-exam
Start performing a monthly self-exam as soon as your breasts are fully developed. Checking yourself regularly is important -- you need to know what your breasts feel like normally so you can recognize any changes. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you're no longer having periods, choose a day that's easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month. Keep in mind that it's not uncommon for breasts to feel lumpy due to benign fibrocystic breast disease, cysts, scar tissue, infections, and other causes that have nothing to do with cancer.

Tip

Step 2: Have lumps checked
Know what you're feeling for: a lump that feels different from your breast's normal lumpiness, like discovering a pebble in your oatmeal. Though many lumps are benign, anything that feels new or odd should be checked by your doctor -- even if you've recently had a clean mammogram. Check for lumps in your armpits, too.

Tip
Cancerous lumps are more likely to be hard, painless, and unmovable.

Step 3: Beware of dimpled skin
Look for visible changes, like dimpled, puckered, thickened, reddened, or scaly breast skin, or a flattening or indentation on the breast. All are potential breast cancer symptoms that should be evaluated.

Step 4: Note nipple changes
Recognize the nipple changes that can indicate breast cancer -- pain; redness; scaliness; itching; skin thickening; the nipple turning inward; or discharge other than breast milk.

Step 5: Have pain and swelling evaluated
See your doctor about swelling in all or part of your breast, or breast pain. Though swelling and soreness are usually no cause for concern, these symptoms can be signs of a rare but aggressive form of the disease known as inflammatory breast cancer.

Step 6: Get regular check-ups
Have your doctor perform a breast examination at your yearly check-up, and begin annual mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of the disease, tell your doctor: they may suggest that you start having mammograms at an earlier age. Knowing the signs of breast cancer -- and being proactive about knowing how to recognize them early -- is the best way to protect yourself.

Did You Know?

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[zenacarnall]

Some of the comments are breaking my heart 💔 I pray that every single one of you guys never get diagnosed with anything like this 🙏

[hwq]

My mom is 40 and im really worried that she will have cancer, im just 12 and my dad isnt here right now, i hope my mom lives a happy life without any dieses or cancer :-(

[MJLee]

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, back in July...that's the terminal stage. I didn't know I had it, because I never did the self-exam, nor did I go to the doctor for them to do it....please become familiar with your body, and allow the doctor to perform whatever tests are necessary to prevent what happened to me, to happen to you!

[Scereyaha]

BEING YOUNG OR MALE DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN'T GET CANCER. IF YOU NOTICE SOMETHING WEIRD, ESPECIALLY ONLY ON ONE SIDE, DON'T ASK THE INTERNET AND WAIT AROUND FOR A STRANGER'S BEST GUESS, INFORM A PARENT AND GO TO THE DOCTOR. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

[cameronpennington]

This is totally wrong with self exams. Do an exam EVERY SINGLE DAY!! My mom does one every day because her sister died with breast cancer. Now my mom has been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. And she found out today that her cancer markers have went down!! Praise God! Chemo is working!!

[NewDayNewSmile]

My mother is a breast cancer survivor and her self breast exam is what saved her life!!!

[TaylorJordan]

I shouldn't have watched this video, now I'm crazy freaked out!

[bearchime]

I was told at the age of 37 that I have breast cancer. I never felt a lump or had any of the issues they talk about in this video. I am the first in a few generations of cancer survivor to ever have breast cancer. I tested negative for the breast cancer genes, but still have breast cancer. Regardless of your age if cancer runs in your family get a mammogram done. I was lucky and they found it early. I would hate to see what stage I would of been if I waited till I was 40 to be checked.

[thedesire]

At the age of 13, i had undergone a surgery in all of them are scared & awaited for biopsy report.. With gods grace, its just a fibroedema😇

[yagirlstevieg]

I'm a 28 year old with breast cancer. I have my surgery next week. I was told by doctors that I was too young to need a mammogram and was pushed aside for almost 3 years before anyone took me seriously.

[antivaxxnugs]

ok thanx. I am just getting worried about any type of cancer, before i get a job and do wat i want

[jecpek]

Better look out for possible complications. My mother survived breast cancer but 2 weeks after her operation, heart complications took her life.

[lookylooky]

I also had breast cancer, and I think when the cancer is growing, there is a little growing sensation. I know everyone is different but that is what I felt.

[thewrngchild]

You don't have to tell your parents, but please do go along to your GP and get it checked. It's most likely to be a breast mouse (a small benign growth in the breast that can be simply removed with no further treatment needed) or it could be breast cyst, which may need draining. At 18 it is incredibly unlikely to be anything serious at all, the prime age for breast cancers is between 45 and 65.

[thotasaurus]

My mother had a lump in her breast, but thank the lord it was only tissue..thank you so much for this info 💕

[thewrngchild]

This is most likely an infection in your lymph node, caused by germs entering your skin via the skin tag removal site. Your lymph nodes catch diseased cells and infections, causing the ones close to the site to swell. If this gets bad pus my form and it may leave you with a very smelly, gungy problem in your pit if an abscess forms and ruptures. Go along to your GP and they will most likely prescribe antibiotics to clear this up.

[dracomalfoy]

I’m 17 and I have pain in one of my breasts and I’m scared

[oliviajade]

I’m 13 and I recently found a hard lump on my breast. I’m freaking out, and to make it worse I’m the biggest hypochondriac ever!! I’m so scared 😰😩😭

[krwoods]

You should talk to your mother (at the very least) and see a doctor. Although it may not be serious, young women CAN get it too. In fact, women under 40 are very prone which is why there's a bigger push to get women to check their breast earlier and earlier than the 'norm'.