Breast cancer often has no symptoms, but you may notice something you want the doctor to check. Keep an eye out for:

• A painless lump in the breast
• Changes in breast size or shape
• Swelling in the armpit
• Nipple changes or discharge

Breast pain can also be a symptom of cancer, but this isn’t common.

Signs of inflammatory breast cancer: Although rare, but it's a fast-growing type and rarely causes a distinct lump. Instead, breast skin can become thick, red, and look pitted, like an orange peel. The area might also feel warm or tender and have small bumps that look like a rash.

For years, doctors told women to check their own breasts once a month. But studies suggest these exams play a very small role in finding cancer compared to other testing methods. The current thinking is that it’s more important to know your breasts and be aware of any changes, rather than checking them on a regular schedule. If you want to do a self-exam, go over the technique with your doctor.

However, the only sure way to know a lump is cancer is to do a biopsy. This means removing a sample of the lump so it can be examined in the lab. Your doctor may be able to do this with a small needle. But you might need surgery to take part of or the entire lump for testing. The results will show whether it’s cancer, and if so, what type. There are several forms of breast cancer, and treatments are carefully matched to each type.

The odds of beating breast cancer are strongly tied to how early you find it. The American Cancer Society says 99% of women with stage I breast cancer live at least 5 years, and many women in this group remain cancer-free for good. The more advanced the cancer, the lower this figure becomes. By Stage IV, the 5-year survival rate drops to 29%. But these rates will rise as more effective treatments are found.

source:WebMD