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Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Although having regular screening tests for breast cancer is important, mammograms do not find every breast cancer. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and to know what your breasts normally look and feel like, so you’ll be aware of any changes.
Symptoms of breast cancer
The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, although most breast lumps are not cancer. A painless, hard, fixed mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancer can also be soft, round, tender, or even painful.
Other possible symptoms of breast cancer include:
- Swelling of all or part of a breast even if no lump is felt.
- Skin dimpling, sometimes looking like an orange peel.
- Nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking, or thickened.
- Breast or nipple pain.
- Nipple retraction (turning inward).
- Nipple discharge other than breast milk.
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collarbone can be a symptom of breast cancer spread even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.
Causes of breast changes besides cancer
Breast changes can be caused for reasons other than cancer.
Benign breast conditions
Many of these symptoms can also be caused by benign (noncancerous) breast conditions, including lumps, pain, or discharge from your nipples. Some benign conditions might show up on a mammogram.
Hormones
Your breasts might feel different throughout different periods in your life because of changes in your hormone levels. Before menopause, your breast size and shape might change throughout the month as you go through different phases of the menstrual cycle. A pregnancy can also cause changes in your breasts.
As you get close to menopause, you might notice lumps or other differences in your breasts.
Taking hormone medicines, like birth control or hormone replacement therapy, can also cause breast tissue to change.
When to see a healthcare professional
It's important to have any new breast mass, lump, or other change checked by an experienced healthcare professional so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Remember to also continue regular screening for breast cancer as recommended. Screening tests can often help find breast cancer early, before any symptoms appear and when treatment is most likely to be successful.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Henry NL, Shah PD, Haider I, Freer PE, Jagsi R, Sabel MS. Chapter 88: Cancer of the Breast. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Dorshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier: 2020.
Joe BN. Clinical features, diagnosis, and staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-features-diagnosis-and-staging-of-newly-diagnosed-breast-cancer on March 18, 2026.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Version 1.2026 – March 5, 2026. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/breast-screening.pdf on March 18, 2026.
Sabel MS. Clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and clinical evaluation of a palpable breast mass. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-differential-diagnosis-and-clinical-evaluation-of-a-palpable-breast-mass on April 14, 2026.
Last Revised: July 23, 2026
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