---
title: "Breast Cancer Information: Symptoms, Screening & Guides"
description: "Explore breast cancer symptoms, screening, diagnosis and treatment. Find clear guides, questions for your care team and routes to practical UK support."
url: https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/
robots: noindex
---

# Breast Cancer Information: Symptoms, Screening & Guides

[Baca informasi dalam Bahasa Indonesia →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/id/)
Clear information, with sources

## Quick answer

Explore breast cancer symptoms, checking your breasts, screening, diagnosis, treatment and life after cancer. Choose the question that matters to you, or search all 59 guides below. For a new or unusual breast change, contact your GP.

**Worried about a breast change?** Contact your GP. Do not wait for screening. For specialist helplines and practical help, visit our [breast cancer support directory](https://breastcancer-charity.org/breast-cancer-support/).

Find your starting point

## What would help today?

You do not have to follow these in order. Choose the question closest to yours, and read only as much as you need.

[A new change ### I have noticed a breast change See possible symptoms and what to tell your GP. Do not wait for screening if a change is new or unusual. Breast cancer symptoms →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-symptoms/) [Tests and results ### I have been referred for tests Understand breast clinic appointments, imaging and biopsy, and know what to ask about your results. How diagnosis works →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-diagnosis/) [A place to start ### I have just been diagnosed Find your next steps and questions for your care team, at your own pace. Newly diagnosed guide →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/newly-diagnosed-with-breast-cancer/) [Care choices ### I am considering treatment Explore the main treatments and the questions that can help you discuss your own plan. Treatment options →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-treatment/) [After treatment ### I have finished treatment Read about follow-up care, ongoing effects and finding support after treatment. Life after treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/life-after-breast-cancer-treatment/) [Talk to someone ### I need practical or emotional support Find UK helplines and practical help. We signpost support; we do not run a clinical helpline. Support directory →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/breast-cancer-support/)

Find what you need

## Your breast cancer guide finder

59 guides

Browse at your own pace. Choose a starting point, or search using the words you know. These links help you find information to discuss with your care team.

- [Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Breast Cancer: How They Work and Who They Help →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/antibody-drug-conjugates-breast-cancer/)
- [Bone Health After Breast Cancer: Protecting Your Bones During and After Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/bone-health-after-breast-cancer/)
- [Bone Metastases in Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/bone-metastases-breast-cancer/)
- [Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/brain-metastases-breast-cancer/)
- [Breast Cancer and Fertility Preservation Egg freezing, embryos, sperm and future family plans →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-fertility-preservation/)
- [Breast Cancer Causes and Risk Factors →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-causes-and-risk-factors/)
- [Breast Cancer Clinical Trials: A UK Guide Research studies, trial eligibility and questions before joining →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-clinical-trials/)
- [Breast Cancer Disparities and Ethnicity: Why Outcomes Differ and What Helps →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-disparities-and-ethnicity/)
- [Breast Cancer During and After Pregnancy →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-and-pregnancy/)
- [Breast Cancer Follow-Up and Surveillance After Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-follow-up-surveillance/)
- [Breast Cancer Genes, BRCA and Family History Inherited risk, genetic testing and BRCA1 or BRCA2 →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-genes-and-family-history/)
- [Breast Cancer in LGBTQ+ People →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-lgbtq-plus-women/)
- [Breast Cancer in Men →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-men/)
- [Breast Cancer in Older Women (70 and Over) →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-older-women/)
- [Breast Cancer in South Asian Women →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-south-asian-women/)
- [Breast Cancer in Your 20s, 30s and Under 50 — What Young Women Need to Know →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-in-young-women/)
- [Breast Cancer Recurrence — Risk, Signs and Prevention →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-recurrence/)
- [Breast Cancer Stages and Grades Stage 1, 2, 3 and 4; grades and staging →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-stages/)
- [Breast Cancer Statistics — UK and Worldwide →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-statistics/)
- [Breast Cancer Surgery — Your Options Explained Lumpectomy, breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-surgery/)
- [Breast Cancer Survival Rates by Stage →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-survival-statistics/)
- [Breast Cancer Symptoms: Signs and When to See a GP Breast lump, armpit lump, nipple discharge, dimpling and breast pain →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-symptoms/)
- [Breast Cancer Treatment Options Surgery, chemotherapy, chemo, radiotherapy and hormone therapy →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-treatment/)
- [Breast MRI Screening: When Is It Recommended? →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-mri-screening-when-recommended/)
- [Breast Reconstruction Options: Mastectomy & NHS Pathways Reconstruction after mastectomy and choosing to go flat →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-reconstruction-options/)
- [Breast Self-Examination — the TLC Method Breast awareness, checking your breasts and chest →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-self-examination/)
- [Cancer-Related Fatigue After Breast Cancer Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/cancer-related-fatigue-after-treatment/)
- [CDK4/6 Inhibitors for Breast Cancer: How They Work, Side Effects and UK Availability →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/cdk46-inhibitors-breast-cancer/)
- [Chemo Brain: Cancer-Related Cognitive Changes Explained →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/chemo-brain-cognitive-effects/)
- [Chemotherapy Side Effects and When to Get Help Chemo side effects, feeling unwell and urgent treatment advice →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/chemotherapy-side-effects-management/)
- [Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Numbness, Tingling and Nerve Pain →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/chemotherapy-induced-peripheral-neuropathy/)
- [DCIS — Ductal Carcinoma In Situ →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/dcis/)
- [Dense Breasts and Breast Cancer Risk →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/dense-breasts-and-breast-cancer/)
- [Fear of Breast Cancer Recurrence: Coping With Worry After Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/fear-of-recurrence/)
- [HER2-Positive Breast Cancer →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/her2-positive-breast-cancer/)
- [Hormone Therapy Side Effects: How to Cope With Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/hormone-therapy-side-effects/)
- [How Breast Cancer is Diagnosed Breast clinic, ultrasound, biopsy, tests and results →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-diagnosis/)
- [HRT and Breast Cancer Risk →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-and-hrt/)
- [Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/immunotherapy-for-breast-cancer/)
- [Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/inflammatory-breast-cancer/)
- [Life After Breast Cancer Treatment Recovery, survivorship and moving forward →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/life-after-breast-cancer-treatment/)
- [Local and Chest-Wall Recurrence After Breast Cancer Surgery →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/local-chest-wall-recurrence/)
- [Lymphoedema After Breast Cancer: Prevention and Management Lymphedema, swelling and lymphoedema support →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/lymphoedema-prevention-and-management/)
- [Mammogram Limitations and Accuracy: How Reliable Is Breast Screening? →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/mammogram-limitations-and-accuracy/)
- [NHS Breast Screening — What Age Does It Start, Who Is Invited and What to Expect NHS mammogram invitations and screening appointments →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-screening/)
- [Nutrition & Exercise During Breast Cancer Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/diet-and-exercise-during-breast-cancer-treatment/)
- [Paget's Disease of the Breast: Symptoms & Treatment →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/pagets-disease-of-the-breast/)
- [Palliative and Supportive Care in Breast Cancer →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/palliative-care-in-breast-cancer/)
- [Preventing Breast Cancer — What the Evidence Says →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-prevention/)
- [Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer: Side Effects & NHS Guide →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-radiotherapy/)
- [Radiotherapy Side Effects: Skin, Heart and What to Expect →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/radiotherapy-side-effects-skin-and-heart/)
- [Secondary (Metastatic) Breast Cancer Metastatic, advanced and stage 4 breast cancer →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/secondary-breast-cancer/)
- [Sex and Intimacy After Breast Cancer: Coping With Changes to Your Body and Relationships →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/sex-and-intimacy-after-breast-cancer/)
- [Supporting Someone with Breast Cancer: Practical & Caring Guide Help for partners, family, friends and carers →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/supporting-someone-with-breast-cancer/)
- [Treatment-Induced Menopause: Symptoms and How to Manage Them →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/treatment-induced-menopause-symptoms/)
- [Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/triple-negative-breast-cancer/)
- [Types of Breast Cancer Explained →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/types-of-breast-cancer/)
- [Understanding Your Breast Cancer Pathology Report Pathology results, ER, PR, HER2, margins and lymph nodes →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-pathology-report/)
- [What is Breast Cancer? →](https://breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/what-is-breast-cancer/)

No guides match. Try fewer words or choose “All guides”. For money, work, bras, accessible information or local services, [find practical support](https://breastcancer-charity.org/breast-cancer-support/#practical-support).

Looking inside an article? [Search the full site](https://breastcancer-charity.org/search/) · [Find support by country](https://breastcancer-charity.org/breast-cancer-support/#support-by-country)

Frequently asked questions

## Breast cancer, answered

What are the first signs of breast cancer? The most common first sign is a new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit. Other signs include changes in size or shape, skin dimpling or puckering, nipple changes (discharge, inversion or rash), and new persistent breast pain. See your GP promptly if you notice any change — most breast changes are not cancer, but only a doctor can confirm this. Full guide: breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-symptoms/ How do I check my breasts — Touch Look Check? Get to know what is usual for you: Touch your breasts and armpits for lumps or thickening; Look in the mirror for shape, skin or nipple changes; Contact your GP if anything is new or unusual. Checking cannot diagnose or rule out cancer. Guide: breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-self-examination/ What is the survival rate for breast cancer? Survival figures describe groups of people and cannot predict what will happen to one person. Outcomes depend on stage, cancer type, treatment and individual health. Your care team can explain what your diagnosis means. Guide: breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-survival-statistics/ How is breast cancer diagnosed on the NHS? Diagnosis uses triple assessment: examination, imaging (mammogram and/or ultrasound) and a needle biopsy if needed. Your GP may make an urgent suspected-cancer referral. Timing and pathways vary across the UK; ask when to expect contact and follow up if you have not heard. Guide: breastcancer-charity.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-diagnosis/ Where can I get breast cancer support in the UK? Start with your NHS breast care nurse if you have one. Free helplines include Breast Cancer Now on 0808 800 6000 and Macmillan on 0808 808 00 00. Breast Cancer Charity is not a UK helpline — we signpost support and fund screening abroad. Hub: breastcancer-charity.org/breast-cancer-support/

Our guides link to their sources and show whether a page-specific editorial check or independent clinical review has been recorded. Read our [editorial policy](https://breastcancer-charity.org/editorial-policy/). Your own care team can explain which information applies to you.

Help make care more accessible

## Help someone take their next step towards care.

Alongside free breast health information, our World Aid Network campaign supports screening and treatment access in underserved communities. Explore how your support could help.

[See how donations help](https://breastcancer-charity.org/your-impact/)