In short
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit. Also watch for a change in size or shape, skin dimpling, redness, a nipple turning inward, discharge, or a rash around the nipple. Get to know what is normal for you, and see a GP about any new change.
Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for your own health. Breasts change naturally with your monthly cycle, with age and around the menopause, so 'normal' is different for everyone. The aim is not to follow a complicated routine — it is to notice when something has changed.
Most breast changes are not caused by cancer. Lumpy or tender breasts before a period, harmless cysts and infections are all common. But because finding breast cancer early makes it far more treatable, any new or unusual change is always worth getting checked.
What signs and symptoms should you look for?
Breast cancer can show itself in several ways, and not always as a lump. The NHS advises seeing a GP if you notice any of the following changes that are new for you:
- A new lump or area of thickening in the breast or armpit that feels different from the rest of the breast
- A change in the size, shape or outline of a breast
- Dimpling, puckering or a change in the texture of the skin (sometimes likened to orange peel)
- Redness or a rash on or around the nipple, or on the breast skin
- A nipple that has become pulled in or changed its position or shape
- Discharge or fluid leaking from a nipple when you are not breastfeeding, especially if blood-stained
- Pain in a breast or armpit that is there most or all of the time (breast pain alone is rarely a sign of cancer, but persistent, one-sided pain should be checked)
How do you check your breasts: a simple approach?
There is no need to learn a special technique. The most important habit is regular awareness — look and feel often enough that you would notice a change. Many people find it easiest to check in the shower, when soapy hands glide over the skin, or lying down, when breast tissue spreads more evenly.
A simple way to remember it is 'Touch, Look, Check': touch your breasts to feel for anything unusual; look for changes in the mirror, including with your arms raised; and check anything new or different with a GP. Feel the whole breast, up into the armpit and up to the collarbone, as breast tissue extends into these areas.
What is breast changes that are usually harmless?
Most breast changes turn out to be benign (not cancer). Hormones cause many breasts to feel lumpy or tender in the days before a period. Fluid-filled cysts and smooth, firm lumps called fibroadenomas are common and harmless. Infections such as mastitis can cause redness and pain, particularly during breastfeeding.
The fact that most changes are harmless is exactly why it is worth getting a new change looked at: a GP can usually reassure you quickly, and on the rare occasions when something needs further tests, finding it early gives the best possible outcome.
What is breast cancer in men?
Breast cancer is far less common in men, but it does happen — around 400 men are diagnosed in the UK each year. Men have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipple, and the most common sign is a firm, usually painless lump there. Men should report any new lump, nipple change or discharge to a GP in the same way as women.
What are the key takeaways?
- The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit — but it can also show as skin, nipple or shape changes.
- There is no single correct way to check your breasts. Get to know what is normal for you, and look and feel regularly.
- Most breast changes are not cancer, but any new or unusual change should be checked by a GP.
- Breast tissue extends into the armpit and up towards the collarbone — include these areas when you check.
- Men can get breast cancer too and should report any new lump or nipple change.
Care like this is out of reach for millions
The diagnosis, screening and treatment described here are routine in the UK. In Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia, poverty puts them out of reach — so a treatable cancer too often becomes a fatal one. World Aid Network funds treatment through locally-licensed oncologists for patients who cannot pay.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my breasts?
There is no fixed rule. The NHS recommends 'breast awareness' — getting to know how your breasts normally look and feel so you notice any change, rather than following a rigid monthly routine. Many people check every few weeks. If you still have periods, it can help to check at the same point in your cycle each time, as breasts change with hormones.
Is breast pain usually a sign of cancer?
Breast pain on its own is rarely a sign of breast cancer. It is very common and is usually linked to hormones, the menstrual cycle, or benign conditions. However, pain that is persistent, in one specific area, or comes with other changes such as a lump or skin change should be checked by a GP.
What does a cancerous breast lump feel like?
There is no completely reliable way to tell a cancerous lump from a harmless one by feel alone — which is why any new lump should be checked. As a general guide, cancerous lumps are often (but not always) hard, painless and have an irregular shape, and may feel fixed in place rather than moving freely. Many harmless lumps share some of these features, so always see a GP.
Should I check my armpits too?
Yes. Breast tissue extends up into the armpit, and breast cancer can sometimes first show as a swelling or lump in the armpit (the nearby lymph nodes). Include your armpits and the area up to your collarbone when you check.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It was reviewed by the World Aid Network editorial team for accuracy against NHS and World Health Organization sources. Always speak to a GP or qualified clinician about your own health.