One breast may become larger, lower, or differently shaped than the other. This change may be subtle—something only you notice.
What to look for: Asymmetry that is new or worsening. (It's normal to have slightly uneven breasts; what matters is a change from your normal.)
2. Skin Changes (Texture, Dimpling, or Redness)
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Dimpling – Skin that looks like an orange peel (peau d'orange)
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Thickening – An area that feels different from surrounding tissue
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Redness or warmth – Persistent, not related to infection
What to look for: Any area of skin that looks or feels different from the rest of the breast.
3. Nipple Changes
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Inversion – A nipple that turns inward (if it wasn't always that way)
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Flattening – Loss of projection
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Deviation – Nipple pointing in a different direction
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Scaling or crusting – Persistent rash or eczema-like changes on the nipple or areola (may indicate Paget's disease)
4. Nipple Discharge
Spontaneous discharge (not expressed by squeezing) that is:
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Clear, bloody, or yellow
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From one breast only
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Persistent
Important: Discharge that occurs only when you squeeze both nipples and is milky or greenish is usually benign. Spontaneous, unilateral discharge is what warrants attention.
5. A Lump or Thickening
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