Symptoms of breast cancer: Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is an important part of your breast health. Although having regular screening tests for breast cancer is important, mammograms do not find every breast cancer. This means it's also important for you to know what your breasts normally look and feel like, so you’ll be aware of any changes in your breasts. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass (although most breast lumps are not cancer). A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can be also soft, round, tender, or even painful.

Many of these symptoms can also be caused by benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions. Still, it’s important to have any new breast mass, lump, or other change checked by an experienced healthcare professional so the cause can be found and treated if needed. Remember that knowing what to look for does not take the place of having regular screening for breast cancer. Screening mammography can often help find breast cancer early before any symptoms appear. Finding breast cancer early gives you a better chance of successful treatment.