Early breast cancer symptoms usually do not cause pain and may cause no breast cancer symptoms at all. It is normally found when a suspicious lump is detected. It must be about the size of a finger tip before it can be felt.Women are recommended to examine their breasts once in a month to detect any changes or lumps. If breast self -examination detects a lump, the family doctor should be consulted.

Some women may experience very obvious and alarming breast cancer symptoms, such as a bloody or clear leakage from the nipple. Often, this happens when a palpable lump is also present. Other more obvious symptoms could manifest as a change or deforming of the breast or nipple shape. Dimpling or indentations are one indicator of this happening.

Actual breast cancer symptoms are often thought to be nothing more than normal occurrences. For example, often during the menstrual cycle the breasts will swell or be sore. This is something that occurs naturally in connection with the fluctuation in hormones, and isn't necessarily a breast cancer symptom. However, if it is something that you haven't experienced in the past, having it checked by doctor is a safe way to be cautious.

The one symptom most people are familiar with is a lump. Many times a lump can be an early sign of breast cancer, and should be checked by your doctor immediately. The lump should feel firm, but with some give, not unlike a piece of chewed gum. Lumps are generally not painful (painful lumps are often a sign of something else, such as cysts). These lumps can occur anywhere, but most commonly they appear under the nipple and at the outer edge of the breast near the armpit.

You need to recognize that not every lump on the breast is a sign of cancer. Many women have breasts that naturally have fibrous areas or lumps. If this is true for you, then talk to your doctor to determine a way to test yourself. Recent studies have shown that most lumps will not be detected during self-examination, because they are too small to be felt or are too far below the surface of the skin.

Symptoms of advanced breast cancer include sores on the skin, pain in the breast bone or elsewhere in the chest, a swelling and sore arm on the same side as the cancer, and reduced appetite. Cancer that has gone this far without treatment will be difficult to manage. You will get the best breast cancer information from your doctor, so you need to tell him or her immediately if any new symptoms appear or if existing ones get worse.

If you are currently experiencing breast cancer symptoms, it is imperative to consult your doctor immediately. Some women may experience very obvious and alarming cancer symptoms, such as bloody or clear leakage from the nipple. Often, this happens when a palpable lump is also present. Other, more obvious, symptoms could manifest as a change of the breast or nipple's shape. Dimpling or indentations are other signs of cancer. Whether you are trying to answer the question, "what is breast cancer?", or have a reason for more personal concern, your doctor will have the latest and best breast cancer information.