It's currently Breast Cancer Awareness Month which means it's an important time for us all to come together and raise awareness of the devastating disease and its effects.
Now, while the first symptom most people notice is a lump in their breast or some thickening around the area, there are also four skin changes to look out for that could be a sign of breast cancer.
Cancer Research has helpfully shared all the main things you need to know when it comes to symptoms of breast cancer which around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with in the UK each year.
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It's also the most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 15 percent of all new cancer cases.
So, it's important for us to be aware of exactly how to examine our own breasts.
What are the main breast cancer symptoms?
There are several main breast cancer symptoms but one of the most common is 'a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit'.
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While most breast lumps are not cancer and are benign, it's still important to always get a breast lump checked by your GP as they will arrange for you to have tests to find out whether your lump is cancer or not.
Another symptom is 'a change in size, shape or feel of your breast' as well as 'fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding'.
"Fluid leaking from a nipple in a woman who isn't pregnant or breastfeeding can be a sign of breast cancer," Cancer Research UK explains.
"But other medical conditions can also cause this."
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A change in the position of the nipple is also a key symptom for breast cancer.
This could look like one nipple 'turning in' or 'sinking into' the breast.
"It might look or feel different than usual," the charity notes.
What changes to your skin should you look out for?
There are four main changes to the skin around your breast you should also be mindful of.
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These include:
- Puckering
- Dimpling
- Rash
- Redness
Cancer Research UK explains that the skin around this area 'might look like orange peel or the texture might feel different'.
Equally, these skin changes can also be caused by other breast conditions so it's always important to get any new changes checked by your GP as soon as possible.
What about breast pain?
Breast pain is actually very common and 'it’s not normally due to cancer'.
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If you find you get pain in one or both breasts, Cancer Research UK assures that this 'usually goes away after some time'.
"There might be no obvious reason for this pain, even if you have a lot of tests," they added.
Symptoms for inflammatory breast cancer, which is a rare type of breast cancer, include your whole breast looking red, inflamed and feeling sore.
"The breast might feel hard and the skin might look like orange peel," the charity adds.
Find out more about breast cancer symptoms here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Rhiannon Ingle