Discharge from a nipple

Nipple discharge, especially a bloody nipple discharge from one breast only, may be a sign of breast cancer.

There are many other causes of nipple discharge, including the development of cysts that can result in green, brown or yellow discharge.

Whatever the colour of your nipple discharge, it should be seen by a doctor. A mammogram or other diagnostic imaging scans will be able to diagnose or rule out breast cancer. Your breast specialist will be able to discuss treatment options for benign breast disease, like cysts.

A lump in the armpit

An armpit lump or axillary mass may be found before a breast lump can be detected by examination alone. The axillary lymph nodes in the armpit are often the first place that breast cancer cells spread to, and a new lump in this area warrants further investigation. You should also check your upper chest as breast cancer sometimes spreads to other nearby structures.

A lump in your armpit may well be a harmless lymphoma (benign fatty growths), skin cyst, or lymph node that is enlarged because your body is fighting an infection. Your doctor will be able to identify most benign causes quickly and suggest methods of removal if required.

If breast cancer is suspected, a biopsy or total removal of the lump for further analysis will be necessary. Analysis of the axillary mass will give us a good deal of information about the type of breast cancer present and help us to design a treatment plan.

Redness and swelling of the breast

An infection or milk engorgement often causes redness and swelling during breastfeeding. Normal skin bacteria can cause a painful infection if they enter the breasts through cracked nipples or through damaged tissue after you have plucked hairs or had a nipple piercing.

However, these breast symptoms can also be caused by inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease. Your doctor may be particularly concerned if the redness is not accompanied by other typical signs of infection like pain and itching, or if an apparent infection does not respond to antibiotics.

Dimpling or skin changes on the breast

Many women routinely check their breasts for lumps in the shower but forget to check their breasts in the mirror regularly. Checking the visual appearance of your breasts and the texture of your breast skin is an important part of self-examination.

Check your breasts for skin changes that look like orange peel or any unusual changes in the contour of the breast, like a dimple. Skin changes can be an indication that cancer is developing in the breast tissue and distorting the skin on the surface of the breast.

A developing mass in the breast tissue can also change the appearance of the nipple, causing the nipple to invert. Having said that, inverted nipples are common, and if both nipples have been inverted since you were young, this is not a sign of cancer.

Changes in Breast Size

It is normal for the breasts to change in size throughout life due to hormonal fluctuations or weight changes. Breast asymmetry, where one breast has always been larger than the other, is also common. However, if just one breast begins to change in size suddenly, it could be a warning sign of breast cancer.

A growing mass may contract the breast, making it appear smaller and changing its shape. Alternatively, a breast tumour could increase the volume of the breast by blocking the lymphatic structures that remove fluid from the tissues, increasing breast size.

You will be able to detect changes in size during your routine self-examination. If you look directly at your breast in a mirror regularly, you will notice if one breast begins to change. Some women notice this change when they realise that their bra no longer fits correctly on one side.

Breast cancer symptoms and pain

Breast pain can be severe and alarming, but it is unlikely to be a symptom of breast cancer unless it affects one breast and is accompanied by any of the above symptoms.

Common causes of breast pain include:

  • Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, the menstrual cycle or menopause
  • Medications
  • Mastitis during breastfeeding or other breast infections
  • Insufficient support from your bra that causes ligament strain
  • Benign cysts
  • Neck, shoulder, or back pain radiating to the breast
  • Inflammation of other areas of the chest and thorax, like the rib cartilage or breast bone

If you have chronic or acute breast pain, you should visit your doctor for advice on how to manage it with medication or lifestyle changes.

The importance of early detection

Checking yourself regularly for the symptoms of breast cancer improves the chances of finding cancer early when treatment is less invasive and has a greater chance of success.

We advise our patients to examine their breasts regularly and to participate in regular mammogram screening.

How we can help

Birmingham Breast Group provides advice on breast health and offers diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and other breast conditions.

You can read more about our services here.