Symptoms

• The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A mass that is painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but some rare cancers are tender, soft, and rounded.
• A generalized swelling of part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt).
• Breast skin irritation or dimpling.
• Nipple pain or retraction (turning inward), redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin.
• Discharge other than breast milk.
• Many of these symptoms can also be due to benign breast conditions, but medical examinations and tests may be the only way to determine their cause.

Risk Factors

• All women are at risk for breast cancer; the biggest risk factors are being a woman and aging.
• Personal and family history of breast cancer.
• History of noncancerous breast disease (diagnosed as proliferative breast disease).
• Having early onset of menstrual periods or late menopause.
• Recent use of oral contraceptives or postmenopausal estrogens.
• Never having children or having first child after age 30.
• Chest radiation therapy as a child or young adult.
• Consuming two or more alcoholic drinks a day.
• Obesity, especially after menopause.
• Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.