Breast Cancer Prevention

COMMON SYMPTOMS

Often there are no outward signs of breast cancer that you can see or feel. If there are outward signs, the more common ones include:

• a lump
• an area of thickening
• a dimple in the breast.

Less common signs include:

breast swelling and

redness

enlarged underarm lymph node.

But even if you have one or more of these signs, it still doesn't mean you have breast cancer. Remember that most breast lumps turn out to be benign (not cancerous).
Still, it's extremely important that you SEE YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY if you're worried that you might have breast cancer. Having your doctor take a look will ease your worry, and if anything is found, you'll be able to take care of it quickly.
Physical examination of the breast is one way to find breast cancer. You can read about other screening methods for detecting breast cancer in our Screening & Testing section.

To find out whether specific symptoms are associated with breast cancer, read the Breastcancer.org experts' answers to common questions.

Breast self-exam (BSE), or regularly examining your breasts on your own, can be an important way to find a breast cancer early, when it's more likely to be treated successfully. Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is a critical step you can and should take for yourself