Breast cancer (female)

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK.

Most women who get it (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases, men can also get breast cancer.

If it’s treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body.

Symptoms

Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue.

Most breast lumps aren’t cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also speak to your GP if you notice any of the following:

a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood) a lump or swelling in either of your armpits dimpling on the skin of your breasts a rash on or around your nipple a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast

Breast pain alone isn’t a symptom of breast cancer.

Learn more about the symptoms of breast cancer

After examining your breasts, your GP may refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic for further tests. This might include a mammography (breast screening) or a biopsy.

Read more about breast screening and how breast cancer is diagnosed


The first symptom of breast cancer most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.

Most breast lumps (90%) aren’t cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by your doctor.

You should speak to your GP if you notice any of the following:

a lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood) a lump or swelling in either of your armpits dimpling on the skin of your breasts a rash on or around your nipple a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast

Breast pain alone isn’t a symptom of breast cancer.

Read further information:

Breast Cancer Now: Signs and symptoms of breast cancer Cancer Research UK: Breast cancer symptoms Macmillan Cancer Support: Signs and symptoms of breast cancer