If you’re asking about the 10 breast changes women over 50 should never ignore, the important point is that these signs do not automatically mean cancer. Many breast changes are benign, but a new or persistent change should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
10 warning signs to watch for
- A new lump or mass in the breast or armpit.
- Swelling of all or part of a breast, even without a noticeable lump.
- A change in breast size or shape that isn’t normal for you.
- Skin dimpling or puckering, sometimes resembling an orange peel.
- Persistent redness, thickening, dryness, or scaling of breast skin.
- A nipple that newly turns inward (retraction).
- Unusual nipple discharge, particularly spontaneous or bloody discharge.
- Persistent breast or nipple pain or a new feeling of heaviness.
- A lump or swelling under the arm or near the collarbone, which can represent enlarged lymph nodes.
- A persistent change in the appearance or feel of one breast compared with the other.
Don’t wait for symptoms
Breast cancer can produce no symptoms in its early stages, which is why screening remains important. Mammography can detect some cancers before a lump or other physical change develops.
For women at average risk, the American Cancer Society currently recommends annual mammograms from 45–54, followed by mammography every 2 years from 55 onward, with the option to continue annually. Screening should continue while a woman is in good health and expected to live at least another 10 years. Women at higher risk may need MRI plus mammography earlier.
Most importantly: don’t try to determine from a symptom alone whether it’s cancer. If you notice a new lump, nipple change, discharge, skin change, or other persistent breast change, get it checked even if your most recent mammogram was normal.
