Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Irish Cancer Society

The symptoms you get depend on the type of breast cancer you have.

Symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • A change in size or shape of your breast such as one breast becoming larger than the other.
  • A change in the skin such as puckering, ridges or dimpling (like orange peel) or redness.
  • A change in the direction or shape of your nipple, especially if it sinks into your breast or becomes irregular in shape.
  • An unusual discharge (liquid) from one or both of your nipples.
  • A change in the skin on or around the nipple such as a rash or flaky or crusted skin.
  • Swelling in your breast or armpit or around your collarbone.
  • A lump or thickening in your breast.
  • Constant pain in one part of your breast or armpit.
  • Soreness or warmth (inflammatory breast cancer).
  • A red scaly rash on one nipple, which may itch or burn (Paget’s disease of the breast).

9 out of 10 breast changes won’t turn out to be breast cancer, but it's important to go to your GP if you have any symptoms and get them checked out.

Can I be screened for breast cancer?

Testing for breast cancer when you have no symptoms is called screening. It involves an X-ray of the breasts (mammogram), which can detect early signs of cancer. Finding and treating cancer early greatly improves your chances of survival. For more info, click here.

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