What does breast skin changes feel like with breast cancer?

You may see dimpling, puckering, an orange-peel texture, persistent redness, thickening, scaling, or a change in the contour of one breast. The nipple may become newly inverted or the skin may feel less smooth over a firm area. These changes can occur with or without pain. Many breast skin changes have non-cancerous explanations, but a new or lasting change cannot be identified by touch alone and should be examined.

Compare the area with the other breast without repeatedly pressing it. Record when you noticed the change, whether it is spreading, and whether there is a lump, discharge, warmth, or tenderness. Arrange an appointment with a clinician for a new, persistent, or unexplained change. They may examine the breast and decide whether imaging or another test is needed.

Seek prompt assessment for rapidly developing swelling, redness or warmth, a newly inverted nipple, bloody discharge, a hard or fixed lump, or skin that becomes markedly dimpled or thickened. Urgent care is appropriate if you feel very unwell, have severe pain with fever, or develop sudden breathing difficulty.

Ask what the examination shows, whether the change needs imaging, and how quickly results will be available. Mention your personal and family history, prior breast procedures, and every associated symptom, including pain or discharge.