Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. In fact, when they first develop, many breast cancers are too small to be felt and do not cause symptoms. Screening exams such as mammograms can catch breast cancer at this early stage.
But as the cancer grows, it can cause changes that women should watch for:
- A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
- A change in the size or shape of the breast
- Ridges or pitting of the breast (the skin looks like the skin of an orange)
- A change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels (for example, warm, swollen, red, or scaly)
- A nipple turned inward
- Fluid other than breast milk coming from the nipples, especially if it is bloody
A woman should see her doctor about any symptoms like these. Although not all of these symptoms indicate cancer, it is important to check with the doctor so that any problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
When breast cancer is detected in the localized stage without spreading to lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is 97 percent.
Learn more about breast cancer:
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