What are the warning signs of breast cancer?

What are the warning signs of breast cancer?

Richard E. Gould (Hematologist/Oncologist, Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center) gives expert video advice on: How are most cancerous breast lumps found?; Is pain a sign of breast cancer?; How often should I do a breast self-examination? and more...

The things to look for in breast cancer are, number one, the change in the breast. Is there part of the skin which is different than how it used to be? Is it thicker? Is it dimpled? Is there any discharge from the nipple? Is there any blood coming out? Do you feel a new lump, a new bump; something that wasn't there before? Basically, you want to look for any and all of these changes in your breast. If you notice one, to go to your doctor immediately, so that you can get it evaluated. Pain in the breast can also be a sign of cancer, but the majority of breast cancers are not painful, and pain is often times a sign of a benign condition. Having said that, just because you feel a lump and it's painful does not mean that it's not cancer, and you have to get it checked out. In addition to all of those, there may actually be no warning signs, and that's why it's so important to get yearly exams by your physician and to also get screening mammography, because a mammogram can pick up breast cancer lesions that are not palpable and they can pick them up early, when they're curable.