Breast Cancer Advice Center

Breast cancer - First signs?

For those who have learned they had/have breast cancer, what initial changes or signs did you notice? I do not have many of the common symptoms but have noticed what seems to be a lump that does not hurt but is sensitive to the water pressure when I am showering. It may very well be benign, but I will speak with my doctor about it during my next check-up. This lead me to wanting to know a little bit more from others who may have experienced this as well, who have discovered it was benign and those who have discovered their symptoms were signs of cancer. I am in my mid-20's. Thank you Inverse - can I ask how old you were?

Public Comments

1. My experience was much like Inverse's. I had a painful lump, and my excuse for doing nothing was that I'd heard so often that cancerous lumps didn't hurt (turns out that although most don't, some do). After a while I got a painful area under my arm too, and about the same time I noticed the shape of my nipple had changed from an O to an 8. I had cancer. I was 50.
   
   You are young to have breast cancer, but it does happen, so please go to your doctor straight away. Most lumps are benign, and yours may very well be, but you need to know for sure
2. I noticed a painful lump in my breast. I thought it was a cyst, so I did nothing. Then I noticed a second lump under my arm. When that one turned painful, it did not seem right, so I went to get it checked. Both lumps were cancer.
   
   Don't wait until your next doctor's visit. Go get it checked now. The sooner you know, the better.
   
   EDIT: Li, it was just a few weeks ago. I'm 50.
3. Hi! I came across a website that you might find interesting to read. Here is some of what I found.
   
   Developing Breast cancer is a serious disease that can lead to death if left untreated. Of course, you should be checking your breasts at least once per month to ensure they are healthy. But, to better understand the disease and how to prevent it, it is helpful to first take a closer look at the breasts, the effects of cancer on the breasts, the cause of breast cancer and the risk factors for developing the disease.