Advances in screening and treatment for breast cancer improve survival rates dramatically.

Breast cancer survival rates have increased, and the number of deaths associated with this disease is steadily declining, largely due to factors such as earlier detection, a new personalized approach to treatment, and a better understanding of the disease.

Awareness of the symptoms and the need for screening are important ways of reducing the risk.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include

Peeling, scaling, crusting, or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin

A newly inverted nipple

Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

Change in the size, shape, or appearance of a breast

A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue

Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling