While a lump is still the most commonly-reported symptom, a 2016 study from Cancer Research UK found one in six women who are diagnosed with breast cancer report a totally different issue to their doctors. The problem is not everyone books an appointment as quickly as they should once something comes up. “These women are more likely to delay going to the doctor compared to women with breast lump alone,” says study author Monica Koo, PhD. “It’s crucial that women are aware that a lump is not the only symptom of breast cancer. If they’re worried about any breast symptoms, the best thing to do is to get it checked by a doctor as soon as possible.” And according to 2020 data from Breastcancer.org, one in eight women (about 12 percent) in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, which makes knowing all the signs of the disease all the more important. To make sure you catch a symptom—as subtle as it may be—as early as possible, take a look at these lesser-known signs you may have breast cancer. And for more potential problems you should be aware of as you age, check out 30 Health Issues Every Woman Over 30 Should Start Looking Out For. Another symptom of inflammatory breast cancer is when your breast skin turns pink or reddish on more than half the breast—something that can be hard to tell in those with darker skin tones. “Sometimes these changes in coloration can be difficult to find in African Americans and in obese patients with very large breasts,” Ricardo H. Alvarez, MD, leads the Breast Cancer Center Institute at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), said on the CTCA website. And for harmful habits you should be aware of, check out 30 Things You Had No Idea Could Cause Cancer. Did you notice a random red spot or rash pop up on your breast? Don’t just automatically assume it’s nothing. It could be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer and should be examined by your doctor, even if it looks as harmless as a minor sunburn. If your breast is starting to have a bruised appearance with no other reason for the discoloration, the Mayo Clinic says it could be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer—something that can easily be confused with an infection. And for things you can do to improve your overall well-being, check out 100 Easy Ways to Be a (Much) Healthier Woman. Most people are always looking for bumps in their breasts, but don’t forget to check your lymph nodes for swelling, too. “Many patients who end up diagnosed with breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes have no symptoms in the breast, no changes in the structure of the breast, but they come in for a consult because they feel something under their arm,” says Alvarez. “This may mean that cancer from the breast has traveled to the lymph nodes, and now there is lymph node invasion.” Your armpits aren’t the only subtle place you might experience lymph node swelling due to breast cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, the same issue can also occur above or below your collarbones—a location most people don’t even realize they have a set of lymph nodes in the first place. And for more red flags that aren’t always so obvious, check out 40 Subtle Signs Your Body Is Telling You Something’s Seriously Wrong. You might experience some tenderness around your period, and that’s totally normal. If you’re experiencing persistent or severe pain, though, and you know it’s not due to your menstrual cycle, the American Cancer Society says it should be checked out. Even though breast cancers don’t normally cause pain and tenderness, it’s still a possibility. Whether it’s on your breast or on your nipple, a sore that won’t seem to heal is something to pay close attention to. “It may be a sign of Paget’s disease of the breast, a rare form of breast cancer,” says Alvarez. “This disease originates in the nipple. It’s not usually invasive and is most commonly diagnosed in patients in their 70s and 80s.” And for warning signals of other types of serious conditions, check out These Are All of the Cancer Warning Signs Hiding in Plain Sight. If you’re experiencing irritation around your nipple—the areola—or your breast skin, your body could be showing a symptom of breast cancer. Whether that’s peeling, crusting, scaling, or flaking, once you see it, you’ll be able to tell immediately that something isn’t right, says the Mayo Clinic. While nipple discharge from breast milk is totally normal, if you’re noticing discharge that’s clear or bloody, that’s something you should get checked out since it could be a sign of breast cancer, says the National Breast Cancer Foundation. If you have discharge that’s milky, it could be something else, like hormonal changes or certain medication use.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb There are many different reasons your breasts change their shape over the years, whether it’s due to pregnancy or your age. Be aware of these changes and make sure to bring them up to your doctor, though, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it could also be a subtle warning sign for breast cancer. And for more helpful information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Noticing some dimpling in the skin of one of your breasts might not seem like a big deal, but it could be a sign of breast cancer, says the Mayo Clinic. The issue—which is called peau d’ orange, due to its resemblance of the texture of an orange peel—could be a sign of a more invasive type of breast cancer. While skin resembling an orange peel is one thing, breast cancer could show up with other textural changes as well. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, skin that looks scaly and red should also be examined by a doctor. Noticing your nipple change colors isn’t a great sign. According to Holly Pederson, MD, director of medical breast services at the Cleveland Clinic, it could be a symptom of cancer and could also involve flaking and irritation. “Cancer can originate in the nipple,” she told WebMD. “The nipple will look reddish or purplish; it doesn’t look normal. It’s actually the tumor cells invading the nipple that cause the skin to look different if it is breast cancer.” Sure, everyone’s breasts swell up a little during their time of the month. But if you your swelling is unexplained, is only on one side, or only affects part of the breast, the change in appearance could be a subtle sign of breast cancer, says the American Cancer Society. If your nipple is starting to turn inward when it wasn’t retracted before, it could be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, which is much more aggressive than other types of breast cancer, says the American Cancer Society. Because of that, you should book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to discuss any concerning changes. While swelling is one thing, another sign of breast cancer is quite the opposite: experiencing shrinking, particularly only on one side, says the National Breast Cancer Foundation. It’s an easy sign to overlook if you’re not paying attention, but it could make all the difference in catching a case of breast cancer early. You probably have a pretty good idea of how your areolas usually look and feel at this point—they’ve been on your body for quite some time, after all—so if you notice any thickening, it’s something to check out. This can also take place in the breast skin as well, says the American Cancer Society.
