Part UT Health San Antonio
UT Health San AntonioUT Health San Antonio

UTSA Part of UT Health San Antonio

Contact Us | 210-450-9000

Menu
  • Find a Provider
  • Services
  • Cancer Types
  • Locations
  • Patient Care
  • Cancer Center
  • MyChart
  • X
  • Conditions
  • Conditions In-depth
  • Procedures
  • Wellness Centers
  • Natural & Alternative
  • Drug Info
  • Procedure Animations
  • Wellness Videos
Symptom CheckerQuick Nav
 
Health Library Home>Conditions InDepth>Article

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

by Michael Jubinville, MPH
Main Page
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Screening
Reducing Your Risk
Talking to Your Doctor
Living With Breast Cancer
Resource Guide

Breast cancer may not always cause symptoms. In some women, it is found during a screening test. If you have these, do not think it is because of cancer. Other, less serious conditions, such as a breast cyst, can cause symptoms. But, it's still important to talk about them with your doctor. Finding and treating the cause early will improve your chances for a cure.

Breast Changes

The most common symptom is a painless lump or thickening in or near the breast, or underarm area. In some women, these changes can cause pain. The lump may shrink or go away, but it does not mean the problem is gone. Any changes in the breast should be reported to your doctor.

Other changes to be aware of:

  • A change in the shape or size of the breast
  • Nipple discharge or tenderness
  • Inverted nipple
  • Ridges or pitting of the breast—it may look like the skin of an orange
  • A change in the way the skin of the breast, nipple, or areola (dark area surrounding the nipple), looks or feels—look for warmth, redness, swelling, or scaling
  • A sore or ulcer on the breast that does not heal

Later Stage Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

  • Pain or a feeling of a mass
  • Less hunger and unplanned weight loss
  • Feeling very tired and having little or no energy
  • Belly or back pain—caused by pressure on nearby nerves
  • Trouble breathing
  • Swelling in the legs—may be caused by a blockage in the veins or lymphatic system
  • Bone pain
REFERENCES:

Breast cancer. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/breast-disorders/breast-cancer. Updated January 2018. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Breast cancer in women. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113654/Breast-cancer-in-women. Updated November 26, 2018. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Breast cancer signs and symptoms. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/about/breast-cancer-signs-and-symptoms.html. Updated September 22, 2017. Accessed March 11, 2019.

General information about breast cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-treatment-pdq#_125. Updated February 6, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP  Last Updated: 3/11/2019

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.

Copyright ©  EBSCO Information Services
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy
Physicians and care providers of
UT Health San Antonio

8300 Floyd Curl Dr.

San Antonio, TX 78229

210-450-9000

Connect with us
  • Patient Rights and Responsibilities
  • Language Assistance
We make lives better ©

We're a part of UT Health San Antonio, provider of comprehensive health,  dental, &  cancer care,  advanced academics  and  life-saving research.

Web Privacy | Links from websites affiliated with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's website (uthscsa.edu) to other websites do not constitute or imply university endorsement of those sites, their content, or products and services associated with those sites. The content on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Health information on this site is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat conditions. Consult a health care provider if you are in need of treatment.