What is breast cancer in women?

• Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast.
• It's the most common type of cancer in women in the UK.
• Anyone can get breast cancer.
• How serious breast cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.
• Breast screening (mammogram) can pick up breast cancer that is too small to feel or see, which may make treatment more likely to be successful.
• Sometimes breast cancer can spread to another part to the body, this is called secondary breast cancer.

There's separate information about breast cancer in men.

Main symptoms of breast cancer in women

Symptoms of breast cancer in women may include:

• a lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
• a change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (may look like orange peel) or redness (may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
• a change in size or shape of 1 or both breasts
• nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
• a change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema)
• pain in your breast or armpit which does not go away – breast pain that comes and goes is usually not a symptom of breast cancer

It's important to check your breasts regularly so you know what's normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your breasts.

There's separate information about symptoms of breast cancer in men.

See a GP if:

• you have a lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
• you have any changes in your breasts or nipples that are not normal for you
• you have pain in your breast or armpit that does not go away

Important

Some of these symptoms, including breast lumps, are very common and can be caused by other conditions.

Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have breast cancer, but it's important to get checked by a GP.

If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat.

Symptoms of secondary breast cancer

If breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body it's called secondary breast cancer.

The symptoms depend on which part of the body the cancer has spread to. It can spread anywhere, but it most commonly affects the bones, liver, lungs or brain.

You may also have general symptoms including:

• feeling tired or having no energy
• loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
• feeling unwell with no clear cause
• feeling or being sick
• difficulty sleeping

Find out more

• Breast Cancer Now: secondary breast cancer symptoms

What happens at your appointment

The GP will ask about your symptoms. They may also ask about any breast screening you've had before, and if anyone in your family has had breast cancer.

If you have a lump or unusual changes, the GP may ask to look at and examine your breasts.

You'll need to undress from the waist up, behind a screen. You can have a friend, family member or another member of staff in the room with you during the examination if you want.

Referral to a breast clinic

You may get a referral for more tests or to see a specialist at a breast clinic if the GP thinks you have symptoms that could be cancer. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

• Cancer Research UK: seeing your GP when you have symptoms of breast cancer

Who is more likely to get breast cancer

Anyone can get breast cancer and it's not always clear what causes it.

You might be more likely to get it if you:

• are over 50
• have dense breast tissue – you may be told this after a breast screening (mammogram)
• have other people in your family who've had breast or ovarian cancer – you may have inherited a faulty gene, such as a faulty BRCA gene
• have certain breast conditions, such as benign breast disease, ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ

You may also be more likely to get breast cancer if you have higher levels of the hormones oestrogen, progesterone or testosterone. This may be more likely if you:

• started your periods before you were 12, or went through the menopause after you turned 55
• have not given birth, or gave birth for the first time after 30
• did not breastfeed your children
• have used the contraceptive pill in the last 10 years, or take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – these only slightly increase your risk and for many people the benefits of taking them outweigh the risks

Many breast cancers are also linked to lifestyle, such as smoking.

If you're trans or non-binary

If you're a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary, how likely you are to get breast cancer depends on if you've had surgery, and if you're taking hormones.

If you were assigned female at birth and you've had top surgery (surgery to remove the breasts and have male chest reconstruction), you may be less likely to get breast cancer.

Removing the breasts may lower your chance of getting breast cancer compared to a cis-gendered woman, though it may still be higher than a cis-gendered man.

If you've not had top surgery to remove the breasts and are between 50 and 71, you should be able to have breast screening (mammogram).

Breast Cancer UK has more information about being transgender and breast cancer risk

If you were assigned male at birth, you may be more likely to get breast cancer if you've been taking feminising hormones for longer than 2 years.

These hormones may increase your chance of getting breast cancer compared to a cis-gendered man, though it may still be lower than that of a cis-gendered woman.

If you've been taking feminising hormones for longer than 2 years and are between 50 and 71, you should be able to have breast screening (mammogram).

Breast Cancer UK has more information about being transgender and breast cancer risk

How to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer

You cannot always prevent breast cancer, but going for breast screening (mammogram) when you are invited can help find cancers that are too small to see or feel.

There are also things you can do to lower your chance of getting breast cancer.

Do

• try to cut down on alcohol and avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
• try to lose weight if you are overweight
• try to quit smoking
• talk to your GP if you are worried about the affect the contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy may have on your risk of breast cancer

Genetic testing for breast cancer risk

If any of your close relatives have had breast or ovarian cancer, you may be eligible for an NHS genetic test.

A genetic test will check to see if you have a faulty gene which increases your risk of getting cancer, such as a faulty BRCA gene.

Speak to a GP about genetic testing if breast or ovarian cancer run in your family.

The GP may ask about:

• who and how many people in your family have had cancer
• the type of cancer they had
• how old they were when they were diagnosed
• if your family member is available for genetic testing or has been tested before

The GP will refer you to a specialist breast clinic or genetics clinic for assessment if they think you are at increased risk.

You can also have NHS genetic testing for faulty BRCA genes if you're 18 years or older and have 1 or more Jewish grandparent.

Find out more

• Predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes
• Cancer Research UK: family history of breast cancer and inherited genes
• The NHS Jewish BRCA testing programme

Treatments if you're at increased risk

If you have a higher risk of getting breast cancer because you have a faulty gene, there are some treatments that can help reduce your risk.

A doctor or genetic counsellor will discuss your options with you and explain the benefits and possible side effects.

Treatments to reduce your risk include:

• medicines
• surgery to remove your breasts (mastectomy) – this may be offered if you are at very high risk