Breast Cancer Pictures

Breast Cancer Risk

2010-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Breast Cancer Risk

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease, such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease. Most women who have one or more breast cancer risk factors never develop the disease.

In 1940, the lifetime risk of a woman developing breast cancer was 5%, or one in 20. The American Cancer Society estimates that risk to be 13% in 2009, or almost one in eight.

Risk factors do not cause breast cancer, but can increase the chances of getting breast cancer. Some women have many risk factors, but never get breast cancer.

Significantly higher Breast Cancer Risk

A woman with a history of cancer in one breast has a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of developing a new breast cancer, unrelated to the first one, in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This is different than a recurrence of the previous breast cancer.

There are some Breast Cancer risk factors you can control, and others you cannot.Even if you do not have any of these risk factors, you can still develop breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk factors you cannot change:

Gender ( being a woman )

Age ( getting older — the older you get, the greater your risk of breast cancer )

Genetic risk factors (having an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes)

Family history

Personal history ( a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer )

Race and ethnicity:

White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than are African-American women. African-American women are more likely to die of this cancer. At least part of this seems to be because African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors, although why this is the case is not known. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.

Dense breast tissue ( having high breast density on a mammogram )

Certain benign breast conditions

Lobular carcinoma in situ

Menstrual periods (starting menopause after age 55) (being younger than 12 at the time of your first period)

Previous chest radiation ( being exposed to large amounts of radiation, such as very frequent spine X-rays for scoliosis or treatment for Hodgkin’s disease at a young age)

Diethylstilbestrol exposure

Having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia

Having your first child after age 35

High bone density

Lifestyle-related factors and breast cancer risk

Never having children or having them later in life ( having your first child after age 35 )

Having many pregnancies and becoming pregnant at a young age reduce breast cancer risk. Pregnancy reduces a woman's total number of lifetime menstrual cycles, which may be the reason for this effect.

Recent oral contraceptive use ( current or recent use of birth control pills )

Women who stopped using oral contraceptives more than 10 years ago do not appear to have any increased breast cancer risk. )

Using post-menopausal hormone therapy (postmenopausal hormone use (current or recent use of estrogen or estrogen plus progestin)

Not breast-feeding ( Some studies suggest that breast-feeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, especially if breast-feeding is continued for 1½ to 2 years. )

Having more than one drink of alcohol per day

Excessive alcohol use is also known to increase the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and liver. The American Cancer Society recommends that women limit their consumption of alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

Being overweight or obese (being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult)

Lack of physical activity (To reduce your risk of breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of intentional physical activity 5 or more days a week.)

Factors with uncertain, controversial, or unproven

High-fat diets

Antiperspirants (There is very little laboratory or population-based evidence to support this rumor.)

Bras ( There is no good scientific or clinical basis for this claim. )

Induced abortion

Breast implants

Chemicals in the environment

Tobacco smoke

Night work (for example, nurses on a night shift -- may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.)

As i have already said Breast Cancer Risk Factors dose not mean that you will get Breast cancer.There is no need of panic after reading these Breast Cancer Risk hold high and there is no better healer than your self confidence,always feel you are healthy and move on.

Breast Cancer Lumps

2010-08-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Breast Cancer Lumps

If you find a lump in your breast, it could be a cancerous breast lump. You could feel this lump by a routine breast self-exam. Presence of a lump could be unusual to you. It could be stressful for a woman to check a lump so a doctor could say it better.

Breast Cancer Lumps

If you find any kind of lump in any part of your breast it is important to check by a physician. Still it doesn’t means that presence of a lump is a cancer because almost 80% of all lumps are benign means non-cancerous.

Cancerous Breast Lump

The size of a lump in initial is like of pea. The lump with rough edge, pain and hard, can be a malignant tumor. Cancerous breast lump is not fatty or glandular. It is not smooth but of rough edge. Check your both breasts; if you do not find lump in both breasts then go to see your doctor.

Some of the signs that suggests of cancerous breast lump:

The lump should be hard and firm
the cancerous lump cannot distinguish easily as it is as small as a pea.
the cancerous lump does not move anywhere when you push it
if there is only one lump it suggests of cancerous breast lump
if there are different kind of lumps in both breasts it indicates of a cancerous breast lump.
the breast possessing cancerous lump is dimpled
the cancerous lump breast discharge bloody fluid

Some of the signs that suggests of non-cancerous breast lump:

the lump should be soft
the benign lump (non-cancerous) moves easily
presence of number of lumps indicates of benign breast lump

Breast Mammogram

Without testing a lump in a Breast Mammogram or in USG (ultra-sono-gram) it will be difficult for a woman or a physician to tell about the breast cancer. Breast Biopsy can also detect this disease. For a biopsy a sample of breast lump is taken and seen it under the microscope to identify cancer cells. This test will decide whether the lump/tumor is benign or malignant.

Breast Biopsy

Other warnings of this problem are:

Breast lump get harder and larger
Inverted nipples
Bloody discharge from the nipple
Color of the skin changes and looks like an orange-peel
Breast may become red and dimpled too

Clinical Breast Exam

Beside these signs it is not necessary that your breast lumps are cancerous, sometimes it is nothing than a cyst. So don’t worry and don’t hesitate to show your breast to your physician and have a Nice Clinical Breast Exam.

Breast Cancer Lump

2010-08-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Breast Cancer Lump

How the breast cancer looks like??

The best way to identify the breasts lump is a monthly routine self-exam of your breast. You may feel lump in your breast. In the initial stage it may be feel like a pea but as you grew older it also increases in size. The upper area of your armpit may have the major lumps and the lower part of your breast is like pebble. The upper area of the nipple is lumpy while the next part possesses large number of grain like structures.

All breast lumps are not cancerous:

Breast Cancer Lump

Presence of lump in your breast is one of the signs of breast cancer but it is not necessary that your breast lump is a cancer. Most of the breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous). Out of all breast lumps 80% are benign means they are non-cancerous.

Breast Cancer Lump

How to find lumps are Benign (non-cancerous) or Malignant (cancerous)??

The lumps which move easily when you force them and those having smooth edges are benign lumps. You can fell the benign lumps in both breasts. Benign lumps do not spread on other parts of the body. Benign lumps are painless. Whereas Malignant lumps are hard and thick; which do not move easily. If you feel pain in lumps, it may be cancerous.

Breast Cancer Lump

Causes of benign breast lumps:

Breast lumps may form due to the normal change in breast tissues.

Lumps may also form due to injury or infections

Regular use of some medicines also increases the lumps and pain in lumps.

Male Breast Cancer Lump

If you feel large collections of granules in your breast it may be due to the fibrocystic changes. Before a period begins every women have fibrocystic changes, formation of fibrous tissues in the breast. This fibrous tissue may form the benign breast lump.

Breast Cysts

Sometimes cysts (fluid filled tissues) also develop breast lumps. Deposition of calcium may also cause benign breast lump. A solid lump called fibroadenoma also form breast lump. This type of lumps occurs in women during their reproductive period.

Fibroadenoma

If you are finding a lump in your breast for long period then go to your physician and explain everything that you had experienced in your breast. It will help to know about the breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Signs

2010-08-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

Breast Cancer Signs

Often there are no outward signs of breast cancer that you can see or feel. If there are outward signs, they may be:

Breast Cancer Signs

Sometimes small, hard lumps in the armpit may be a sign that breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Although these lumps are often painless, they may be tender.

A change in the shape or size of the breast may signal a problem.

A new area of thickened tissue in the breast.

Crusting, ulcers or scaling on the nipple may be a sign of some rare types of breast cancer such as Paget's disease of the breast.

Some women's nipples are always pointed inward. Normal nipples that suddenly become inverted should be checked by a doctor.

The skin of the breast may become dimpled or puckered. A thickening and dimpling of the skin is sometimes called orange peel skin.

Fluid coming from the nipple may be bloody, clear to yellow, green, and look like pus.

itchiness, inflammation or hot-feeling skin

Men get breast cancer, too.

Male Breast Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms include breast lump and breast pain and tenderness.

Mammography

These are the Breast Cancer Signs. But after finding some of the signs, it is not necessary that you also suffer this disease so, Physical examination of the breast is important to find breast cancer. You need to see your doctor and consult about it.If Doctor suspects something then he will do Mammography(process to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic and a screening tool.) to be clear.

Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

2010-08-27T02:39:00.000-07:00

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer :

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer are:

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Lump sum or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area.

Changing the size or shape of the breast.

Secretion from the breast, it can be dark and bloody, or open.

Redness, swelling and warmth in the affected breast

Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling

Inverted nipple

Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin

Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Visit Your Doctor If You Find Some of these Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer.At First Doctor Will Do Breast Examination And If He is Not Satisfied Then He Will Proceed To Mammogram.

Sign Of Breast Cancer

2010-08-27T02:03:00.000-07:00

Sign Of Breast Cancer

Sign Of Breast Cancer are:

A lump in the breast:

Sometimes the lump is found on a screening mammogram before it can be felt. Sometimes small, hard lumps in the armpit may be a sign that breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Although these lumps are often painless, they may be tender.

Mammograms

Changes in breast shape or size:

The texture of the breast change leads to the breast cancer.

Skin changes:

Redness on the surface of the skin. Redness, swelling and increased warmth (signs that look like an infection) may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms

Nipple changes:

Some women's nipples are always pointed inward (inverted). Normal nipples that suddenly become inverted should be checked by a doctor.

Nipple Discharge:

Unusual discharge from the nipple that may be clear, bloody, or another color. It's usually caused by benign conditions but could be due to cancer in some cases.

Nipple Discharge

Breast Structure:

A marble-like area under the skin.

Breast Structure

Signs Of Breast Cancer

2010-08-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Signs of Breast Cancer are:

Signs of Breast Cancer

The first sign:

Early Signs Of Breast Cancer

The most common first sign of the breast cancer is a lump in the breast- Sometimes small, hard lumps in the armpit may be a sign that breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Although these lumps are often painless, they may be tender. Sometimes the lump is found on a screening mammogram before it can be felt. The lump is present all the time and does not get smaller or go away with the menstrual cycle. The lump may be tender, but it is usually not painful. Pain is more often a symptom of a benign cancer, but should be checked by a doctor.

Lump In Breast

The second sign:

Breast Dimple

A change in the shape or size of the breast is the second sign. There is often dimpling or indentation of the skin with the formation of wrinkles. The nipple might be pulled in. The dimple readily appears especially when the breast is moved. As the cancer progresses, an ulcer is formed with partial edema of the breast skin, prominent hair holes and an orange-peel appearance.

The third sign:

Breast Itching

Itching of the breast or nipple may be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer. Itchiness is often not relieved by ointments, creams or other medications.

The fourth sign:

Nipple Discharge

Unusual discharge from the nipple that may be clear, bloody, or another color. It's usually caused by benign conditions but could be due to cancer in some cases.

The fifth sign:

Inverted Nipple

Inverted nipple – nipple turns inwards is the sign of breast cancer.

Signs of Breast Cancer

Most Signs Of Breast Cancer are visually observable and highlight the need for regular breast self exams. While breast cancer cannot be prevented, early detection of cancer warning signs and early diagnosis dramatically increases the likelihood of successful treatment.

Breast Self Exam

Breast development and maturation is a response to hormonal changes at puberty, during the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, at childbirth and at menopause.

In addition, fat content in the breasts changes with the bodies overall weight gain or loss. It is good to have a sudden check up with the doctor once you find these kinds of symptoms.

Mammogram

To be on the safer sides, one can have regular mammogram appointments.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer

2010-08-26T06:53:00.000-07:00

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include. The signs and symptoms of breast cancer can also be caused by other health conditions. It is important to have any unusual symptoms checked by a doctor.

Breast Exams

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer. Other symptoms that you can feel are:

What Are The Symptoms Of Breast Cancer ??

• dimpling or pulling of the skin

• discharge from the nipples, other than breast milk

• Lymphnodi metastasis: Hard lymphnodi are detected at both the axillar and cervical regions.

• Slight redness and swelling sometimes appear.

• changes in breast size or shape

• inverted nipple – nipple turns inwards

• crusting or scaling on the nipple

Breast Lumps

Symptoms of advanced breast cancer are:

• loss of appetite

• nausea

• bone pain

• skin ulcers

• Breast pain or discomfort

• Swelling of one arm

Breast Ultrasound

So HURRY UP! If you have any of these symptoms, don’t wait! Go to the doctor for the check up.

Breast Examination

Causes Of Breast Cancer

2010-08-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Causes of breast cancer

Causes Of Breast Cancer

Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled division of the cells in the certain area of the body and sometimes spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood. There are no exact causes found yet but research is continuing. Women are considered at high risk of breast cancer. Only 1% of all cancers deaths are seen in men.

Causes Of Breast Cancer

The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Generally women over 50 are more prone to this disease than younger women. Especially African-American women are more likely to get this disease than white-skinned women. Normally cancer is caused due to some errors (mutations) in the cells.

Here are some of the main Causes of breast cancer:

Chemical Causes:

DNA Mutations

DNA mutations (Changes in DNA) can cause breast cancer. DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms that makes up our genes. Some DNA mutations can lead the risk for developing cancer. The tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, they suppress cancer from forming but if they are mutated then they are unable to suppress the cells from replicating so cancer is more likely to develop. However, most of the cancer causing DNA are not been identified so far.

Gender/Age:

Causes Of Breast Cancer Gender/Age

Being a woman is the greatest risk of possessing breast cancer because it occurs mostly in women, and being older is another risk factor of bearing this disease. However breast cancer can occur at any age but it is more prone as the age increases. As the data collected below it is found that the rate of breast cancer increases as increase in age.

   Average Age    Risk Rate      Total Population
     30yrs    One chance    280 people
   40yrs    One chance    70 people
   50yrs    One chance    40 people

Family history:

Causes Of Breast Cancer Family History

A woman who already had a history of benign cancer in her one breast is three-four times more prone to breast cancer on her both breasts. First-degree relatives like mother, sister if had a breast cancer and if more than one first degree relatives have had this disease before than the woman is at a high risk of developing this disease. If the second-degree relatives like grandmother, aunt with breast cancer also increases the risk of developing breast cancer. If the relative's cancer was found before menopause and involved both breasts increases the risk rate to 4 to 5 times.

Genetic Cause/Hereditary:

Breast Cancer Genetic Cause

Genes are also linked to breast cancer. Certain genes are changed (mutations) as a result of which cause abnormalities and thus passed along in families. It is been found that about 10% of all breast cancers are hereditary. The two genes are found so far which can increase the risk, BRCA1 and BRCA2. If these two genes are inherited then there is 90% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

Causes Of Breast Cancer-Hereditary

The woman with these abnormal genes is more likely to acquire both ovarian as well as breast cancer. The woman who inherited BRCA1 gene can have breast cancer at her early age. There are other genes which are related to breast cancer such as p53, AT, the GADD repair group, the RB suppressor gene, and the HER-2/neu oncogene.

Hormonal:

Causes Of Breast Cancer-Hormonal

Breast cancer risk is increased in women with the longest known exposures to sex hormones, particularly estrogen which rises and falls during her lifetime.

Some of the factors which influence the developing risk of breast cancer are:

The age she starts and stops menstruating:

The right age of a girl for her first periods is after 12 but if she starts menstruating before age 12, she is more likely to have breast cancer. A women’s risk for breast cancer increased if she had her first menstruation before age 12. The average age for a woman to stop menstruation is 48-52years but if a woman stops menstruating after 55, there is a high chance of developing breast cancer.

The average length during periods:

The average length during a menstrual cycle is of 26-29 days. If menstrual cycle occurs before 26days and after 29days it could lead to breast cancer.

Her age at first childbirth:

The woman who give birth her first child after age of 30yrs may have breast cancer. This disease is more likely to be occurring in Nulliparous women. Use of birth control pills (the 'Pill;' oral contraceptives - 'OCs') can also increase the disease. The Pill's exact hazards are difficult to assess, because it seems that the risk disappears in women who have not used oral contraceptives for more than 10 years.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is used by many women to reduce the symptoms of menopause. But some of the studies say that continuous use of ERT may cause breast cancer. Breast cancer risk can increase in those women who are taking estrogen or estrogen plus progestin.

Environmental Causes:

Breast cancer risk can increase to those persons who are using radiation treatment for a long time. Women using radiation therapy for a long time before age of 30yrs is at a high risk of breast cancer than the general population. Japanese women, at low risk for breast cancer while in Japan, increase their risk of developing breast cancer after coming to the United States. This could be due to environmental influence.

Dietary Causes:

Causes Of Breast Cancer-Dietary

Dietary Causes

The intake of fat in your diet may lead breast cancer. It occur more frequently in countries with high dietary intake of fat, and being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in postmenopausal women. The use of alcohol is another risk factor for the development of breast cancer.

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

2010-08-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the cancer occurring in the breast tissues. It is most common in the inner lining of the milk duct. In the early stages breast cancer is usually painless. Breast cancer begins with abnormal cells developing in breast tissue. But cancer also may occur in the small sacs that produce milk, called lobules, or in other breast tissue.

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer may occur in different forms like: Breast Cancer in Situ, DCIS and LCIS; Invasive Breast Cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer, Locally Advanced Breast Cancer and Recurrent Breast Cancer.

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer are:

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

When breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at all. But as the cancer grows, it may cause changes.

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer you can feel !!!

The first symptom which you could find it by yourself is abnormal growth in one or both breasts. There may be abnormal lump or persistent pain. Usually 80-90% of the breast cancers are painless lumps. You can detect the lump by palpating the breasts once a month with the palms while bathing.

There may be a noticeable dimple on the breast which could be a tumor which cannot be felt or seen. The dimple readily appears especially when the breast is moved. Slight redness and swelling sometimes appear. As the cancer progresses, an ulcer is formed with partial edema of the breast skin, prominent hair holes and an orange-peel appearance.

Reddish surface of the breast is the sign of advanced breast cancer.

Change in shape, size, texture and contour of the breast.

Itching or burning on the nipple, an unusual blood-stained discharge from nipple is the symptom of the breast cancer. Even during the non-lactating period, nipples may discharge and undergarments are stained. This could also happen if not feed your child regularly and can lead to breast cancer. So feed your child regularly as you and your child will be safe.

Nipple turns inverted.

Swollen lymph glands in your armpits.

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Late Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

Bone pain
Nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and jaundice
Shortness of breath, cough and buildup of fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion)
Headache, double vision and muscle weakness
Weight loss
Skin ulcers
Swelling of one arm

Symptoms Of Breast Cancer

If you have these symptoms, it still doesn’t mean that you have a breast cancer. If you are worried that you have a breast cancer, go to see your doctor once. It will be your safe option.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

2010-08-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

Breast Cancer is due to the formation of tumors and cancerous cells in the breast glands and ducts. Breast cancers in their early stages are usually painless. The first symptom is the discovery of a hard lump. Fifty percent of such masses are found in the upper outer quarter of the breast. Many cancers, however, produce no symptoms and cannot be felt on examination. They can be detected only with a mammogram. A mammogram can detect cancer before you can feel a lump, which is why your annual screening mammogram is so important.

If you find a lump or other change in your breast then make an appointment with your doctor.

Here are some of the breast cancer symptoms:

The most common type of breast cancer begins in the ducts designed to carry milk to the nipple. Breast tenderness, puckered skin and formation of lumps are the normal signs of breast tumors. One can self examine themselves by lying down with the raised arms, and then they can feel the entire region of breast slowly at a time.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

A change in the size, shape and, contour of the breast.
Nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple pulled back (inverted) into the breast.
Skin look like the skin of an orange.
A rash can affect the nipple or the nipple may weep. Occasionally the nipple itself changes.
The nipple might be pulled in or there may be unusual discharge from the nipple.
A lump under the arm is a sign of spreading cancer to the lymph glands.
Pain or tenderness in the breast can cause breast cancer.
A retraction, redness or scaliness of the nipple that does not go away is one of the symptoms of breast cancer.
Itchiness, burning and inflammation of the skin cause breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Call your doctor if one or both breasts develop an abnormal lump or persistent pain, or look or feel abnormal. The cause often is something other than cancer but should be identified. Doctors should discuss the benefits and limitations of breast self-exam with their patients.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast Cancer in Situ, DCIS and LCIS:-

Many breast cancers detected early, typically by mammography, are classified as breast cancer in situ or noninvasive cancer.

DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ): These abnormal cells haven't spread outside the duct. These abnormal cells are found only in the lining of a milk duct of the breast. DCIS is sometimes call intraductal carcinoma.

LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ): in this the abnormal cells are found in the lining of a milk lobule. LCIS sometimes is found in a biopsy for another lump or unusual change detected on a mammogram.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Recurrent Breast Cancer: In this the cancer has come back or recurred after treatment.

Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: It is very serious and aggressive type of breast cancer. A patient may see ridges, welts or hives on the breast or its skin may look wrinkled. It is sometimes misdiagnosed as an infection.

Invasive Breast Cancer: These cancer cells form in the ducts or the milk lobules and spread to the breast tissue around them. The size of the tumor, what it looks like under the microscope and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes determines the severity of the cancer.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Often, these symptoms are not caused by cancer. Other health problems can cause them. Testing is necessary to make a diagnosis.

Breast Cancer

2009-04-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

Definition of breast cancer:

Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2008:
New cases: 182,460 (female); 1,990 (male)

Deaths: 40,480 (female); 450 (male)

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the breast in women and men. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer after lung cancer (10.4% of all cancer incidence, both sexes counted)and the fifth most common cause of cancer death.In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths).Breast cancer is about 100 times as frequent among women as among men, but survival rates are equal in both sexes.

The first symptom, or subjective sign, of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels different from the surrounding breast tissue. According to the The Merck Manual, more than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered when the woman feels a lump.According to the American Cancer Society, the first medical sign, or objective indication of breast cancer as detected by a physician, is discovered by mammogram.Lumps found in lymph nodes located in the armpits and/or collarbone citation needed can also indicate breast cancer.

Indications of breast cancer other than a lump may include changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, or spontaneous single-nipple discharge. Pain is an unreliable tool in determining the presence or absence of breast cancer, but may be indicative of other breast health issues such as mastodynia.

When breast cancer cells invade the dermal lymphatics—small lymph vessels in the skin of the breast—its presentation can resemble skin inflammation and thus is known as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include pain, swelling, warmth and redness throughout the breast, as well as an orange-peel texture to the skin referred to as peau d'orange.

Another reported symptom complex of breast cancer is Paget's disease of the breast. This syndrome presents as eczematoid skin changes such as redness and mild flaking of the nipple skin. As Paget's advances, symptoms may include tingling, itching, increased sensitivity, burning, and pain. There may also be discharge from the nipple. Approximately half of women diagnosed with Paget's also have a lump in the breast.

Occasionally, breast cancer presents as metastatic disease, that is, cancer that has spread beyond the original organ.

Metastatic breast cancer will cause symptoms that depend on the location of metastasis. Common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung and brain. Unexplained weight loss can occasionally herald an occult breast cancer, as can symptoms of fevers or chills. Bone or joint pains can sometimes be manifestations of metastatic breast cancer, as can jaundice or neurological symptoms. These symptoms are "non-specific", meaning they can also be manifestations of many other illnesses.

Most symptoms of breast disorder do not turn out to represent underlying breast cancer. Benign breast diseases such as mastitis and fibroadenoma of the breast are more common causes of breast disorder symptoms. The appearance of a new symptom should be taken seriously by both patients and their doctors, because of the possibility of an underlying breast cancer at almost any age.