Breast cancer - What are the symptoms?

Many women learn that they have breast cancer before they get any symptoms. They usually find out after they have a mammogram. (A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast.) Mammograms can reveal lumps that are too small to feel. All women aged 50 to 70 in the UK are invited for a mammogram every three years. Women outside these ages aren't invited for routine mammograms, but can ask their GP for screening if they think they need it.

If you have breast cancer you may notice:

A lump or thickening in your breast
A change in how your breast feels or looks. For example, it may feel heavy, warm or uneven, or the skin may look pitted
Changes in your nipple. For example, the nipple might be pulled back into the breast (known as an inverted nipple)
Discharge from your nipple, such as blood
A rash that makes your nipple red and scaly. It may just be eczema, but it could be a sign of a rare type of cancer known as Paget's disease of the nipple.

Dimples in the skin (left) and changes in the shape of the breast (right) are symptoms of breast cancer.

Glossary

X-ray: X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are made by passing small amounts of radiation through your body and then onto film.
eczema: Eczema is a very itchy rash. It may be dark and bumpy and release fluid. Scratching makes it worse. You can get eczema anywhere on your body, but it is most common on the wrists, the insides of the elbows and the backs of the knees. If you have asthma or allergies you are more likely to get eczema than someone who doesn't have these conditions.

This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.