A member asked:

Symptoms of breast cancer?

41 doctors weighed in across 17 answers
Dr. Steve Martinez answered

Specializes in Breast Surgery

Sometimes none: Breast cancer does not always have symptoms. When it does, there may be a non tender lump in the breast, dimpling of the skin, inversion of the nipple, bloody nipple discharge, or sore lymph nodes in the underarm. When breast cancer has spread, it can lead to symptoms in the areas of spread. For example a patient with bone metastasis may experience bone pain.

Answered 1/13/2015

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Maybe none: Early breast cancer has no signs or symptoms. Breast cancer may later present as a painless firm breast lump. Rarely changes in color of the skin, sometimes nipple will get retracted or breast skin pulled inward. Best is to have yearly physical examination and mammogram after age 40 before these symptoms occur. Any breast lump, painful or not, should be examined by your doctor.

Answered 6/11/2015

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Many or none: Proper screening with self breast exams looking for new lumps, breast exams by your physician looking for skin or nipple chanes as well as masses or lymph nodes, and mammogram and ultrasound if needed are the best ways to pick up early stage breast cancer before it causes any symptoms. Once advanced it can cause many different symptoms throughout the body.

Answered 2/25/2014

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Breast lump.: The most common symptom is the presence of a lump in the breast. Other symptoms include nipple discharge, nipple inversion, skin indentation, and breast pain. Nevertheless, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no symptoms whatsoever.

Answered 12/9/2013

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Dr. Travis Kidner answered

Specializes in Surgical Oncology

Depends....: While some women will feel a new lump or a new mass that has appeared in their breast. The majority of women have no symptoms and the cancer is detected by imaging only. It is very important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding mammogram frequency. Early detection = better chance for a cure!

Answered 9/21/2013

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Usually : A painless lump. But you can have cancer without a palpable mass, and that is why you should get screening mammograms. Talk to your doctor about getting proper screening.

Answered 10/18/2016

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Dr. Heather Curry answered

Specializes in Radiation Oncology

Mass is most common: Other possible signs of breast cancer include: swelling of all or part of breast (even if no distinct lump is felt); skin irritation or dimpling; breast or nipple pain; nipple retraction (turning inward); redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin; a nipple discharge other than breast milk. See your doctor for evaluation of any new breast mass/lump or breast change.

Answered 12/10/2016

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Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

The symptoms of Breast cancer include:: Dermatitis, Ulceration, Breast lump, Enlarged lymph nodes, Nipple discharge, Breast pain, Breast tenderness.

Answered 6/1/2016

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See below: Early breast cancer has no signs. Breast cancer may later present as a painless firm breast lump. Rarely changes in color of the skin, sometimes nipple will get retracted or breast skin pulled inward. Best is to have yearly physical examination and mammogram after age 40 before these symptoms occur. Any breast lump, painful or not, should be examined by your doctor.

Answered 12/9/2013

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Many or none: Proper screening with self breast exams looking for new lumps, breast exams by your physician looking for skin or nipple chanes as well as masses or lymph nodes, and mammogram and ultrasound if needed are the best ways to pick up early stage breast cancer before it causes any symptoms. Once advanced it can cause many different symptoms throughout the body.

Answered 2/4/2014

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Breast Lump: The most common symptom is the presence of a new breast lump. Other things to look for include nipple discharge, especially clear or bloody, breast pain, and/or dimpling of the skin. Of course, the goal of breast cancer screening is to diagnose cancers before any of these symptoms develop. Please begin yearly mammography at age 40.

Answered 3/10/2019

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See full answer: Breast cancer can have a variable presentation. Typically it occurs as a hard painless lump. Sometimes all that is noticed is a skin retraction or "dimpling". Sometimes there is nipple discharge, especially bloody discharge. Inflammatory breast cancer is a very aggressive form and initially presents like an infection. Any new or persistent symptom needs to be reported to your physician.

Answered 6/8/2013

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Dr. Travis Kidner answered

Specializes in Surgical Oncology

Most common symptom?: The most common symptom of breast cancer is no symptoms at all. It is important to perform your screening mammography as prescribed by your physician. The best chance for a cure happens when breast cancer is detected at the earliest stages.

Answered 12/9/2013

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A lump in the breast: This is how most women discover their breast cancer. However most such lumps turn out to be benign. If you do monthly breast self exam, you will be able to tell if you have any new lumps. They are often painless and grow in size if left unattended for more then 1 or 2 months. The tumor can also spread outside of the breast if not treated. Promptly.

Answered 3/22/2019

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Lump: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-symptoms-and-signs A lump in the breast is a common symptom. You may consult the website given above for more information on this topic.

Answered 2/17/2015

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Dr. Mark Dickson answered

Specializes in General Surgery

A palpable mass: A painless mass that you can feel is the usual symptom of cancer. Not all breast masses are cancers, of course, but if you have one that persists, you need to see a doctor. Conversely, some breast cancers can't be felt, they can only be seen with an imaging study, such as a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI.

Answered 1/18/2019

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Dr. answered

Breast Cancer: The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast.Most breast lumps are fluid-filled cysts or fibroadenomas (a clumping of glandular tissue) which are non-cancerous (benign). However, you should always see a doctor if a lump develops, as the breast lump may be cancerous.Dimpling or thickening of some of the skin on a part of a breast.Changes in the size or shape of a breast.Rarely, a discharge occurring from a nipple

Answered 10/19/2016

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