Breast awareness cannot prevent breast cancer, but it may help you to be more aware of normal changes that occur in the breasts, and identify any unusual signs and symptoms. This means it is important that you are also aware of changes in your breasts and aware of breast cancer signs and symptoms. While many women visit their doctors after finding a lump, each woman needs to also know about other changes to her breasts or nipples. If you have any new changes, a lump, or any other unusual signs of breast development, speak with your healthcare provider right away.

If an individual notices changes to the breast tissues, he or she should consult with his or her healthcare provider immediately. If the person is not sure what is causing any symptoms related to their breasts, they should speak to a doctor as soon as possible. People should get screened regularly for breast cancer, and talk to their healthcare provider about any breast-related symptoms or changes. If you notice unusual changes in the breasts, go to a general practitioner soon.

It is important to check your breasts regularly and to visit your GP if you notice changes. Breast cancer is more common in women, but regardless of gender, it is important to talk to your doctor about any unusual changes to your breasts—learn more from our Breast Cancer Symptoms page. With these frightening facts in mind, it is important that you learn about your own body, your own breasts, and what to look out for when it comes to the early warning signs of breast cancer so that you are informed when talking with your doctor.

Some symptoms appear very early in the cancer journey, like a lump in the breast without any pain, so they are an important early warning sign to be evaluated by a doctor. Some possible signs of cancer — like the lump — are more well-known than others.

Benign Breast Conditions Some benign breast conditions may produce symptoms resembling cancer. Keep in mind, these symptoms may occur in other conditions that are not cancer. These symptoms are most often the signs of something much less serious — but if it is cancer, finding it early could be the real difference.

Skin Rashes on Your Breasts You might not associate breast cancer with redness or a skin rash, but if it is inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), the rash is an early sign. You may notice bumps or pits, and your breast’s skin may start looking like an orange peel because of underlying inflammation.

For instance, you might discover a suspicious lump sticking out of the rest of the breast tissue, but the lump is soft rather than firm, round rather than irregularly shaped, or even painful. Typically, when told to do self-checkups, you are instructed to feel around your breast tissue for lumps that are solid and not painful. If the breasts or rib cage are affected, symptoms can include pain, pinprick-like fluid, or lumps or thickening of your breasts or rib cage. If breast cancer spreads to the brain or spinal cord and forms tumors there, symptoms may include pain, confusion, loss of memory, headache, blurred or double vision, trouble speaking, trouble moving, or seizures.