Over the course of a woman’s lifetime, she may experience breast changes. While many end up being nothing to worry about, it’s important to have any changes that you notice checked by a doctor — just to be on the safe side. Here are the potential breast cancer symptoms to watch out for.

This video does not replace actual medical advice. Always consult your doctor with any questions or concerns.

Step 1: Do a monthly self-exam

Start performing a monthly self-exam as soon as your breasts are fully developed. Checking yourself regularly is important — you need to know what your breasts feel like normally so you can recognize any changes. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you’re no longer having periods, choose a day that’s easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month. Keep in mind that it’s not uncommon for breasts to feel lumpy due to benign fibrocystic breast disease, cysts, scar tissue, infections, and other causes that have nothing to do with cancer.

TIP: For instructions on how to do a breast self-exam properly, go breastcancer.org.

Step 2: Have lumps checked

Know what you’re feeling for: a lump that feels different from your breast’s normal lumpiness, like discovering a pebble in your oatmeal. Though many lumps are benign, anything that feels new or odd should be checked by your doctor — even if you’ve recently had a clean mammogram. Check for lumps in your armpits, too.

TIP: Cancerous lumps are more likely to be hard, painless, and unmovable.

Step 3: Beware of dimpled skin

Look for visible changes, like dimpled, puckered, thickened, reddened, or scaly breast skin, or a flattening or indentation on the breast. All are potential breast cancer symptoms that should be evaluated.

Step 4: Note nipple changes

Recognize the nipple changes that can indicate breast cancer — pain; redness; scaliness; itching; skin thickening; the nipple turning inward; or discharge other than breast milk.

Step 5: Have pain and swelling evaluated

See your doctor about swelling in all or part of your breast, or breast pain. Though swelling and soreness are usually no cause for concern, these symptoms can be signs of a rare but aggressive form of the disease known as inflammatory breast cancer.

Step 6: Get regular check-ups

Have your doctor perform a breast examination at your yearly check-up, and begin annual mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of the disease, tell your doctor: they may suggest that you start having mammograms at an earlier age. Knowing the signs of breast cancer — and being proactive about knowing how to recognize them early — is the best way to protect yourself.

In a Breastcancer.org survey of more than 2,200 women, 37 percent said they first detected their breast cancer with a self-exam.
This is a contributed article from breastcancer.org.