Know the signs of breast cancer: What to look out for

Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is an essential part of personal health awareness. While many breast changes turn out to be harmless, recognising early symptoms ensures you can seek prompt clinical advice if something unusual develops.

How to check your breasts at home

Performing a monthly breast check helps you become familiar with your normal breast tissue so you can spot changes early.

1. Look in the mirror: Stand with your arms at your sides, then raise them overhead. Look for visual changes in breast shape, skin dimpling, or nipple inversion.
2. Feel standing up: Using the flat pads of your three middle fingers, move in small circular patterns across the entire breast and armpit area. Check for lumps, knots, or tissue thickening.
3. Feel lying down: Lie down with a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Use your left hand to examine your right breast thoroughly, then repeat on the opposite side.

A breast lump may feel firm, different from surrounding tissue, or have irregular edges. Because lumps can vary, any new or persistent change should be checked by a healthcare professional ³.

Other signs to watch for include nipple discharge (especially if blood-stained), inversion, skin dimpling or redness, and swelling near the armpit or collarbone ⁴,⁵. Persistent pain or scaling around the nipple should also prompt medical attention ⁶.

If you notice any of the following persistent changes, schedule a medical review:

• Lumps or thickening: A new lump, firm tissue, or area of thickening in either breast or under the armpit.
• Nipple changes: A nipple that has recently pulled inwards (inverted), changed shape, or developed a rash or crusting around the areola.
• Unusual discharge: Spontaneous discharge from one or both nipples, particularly if clear or blood-stained.
• Skin changes: Dimpling, puckering, redness, or a texture resembling orange peel (peau d'orange).
• Size or shape changes: Unexplained swelling, shrinkage, or asymmetrical changes in the appearance of a breast.
• Persistent pain: Continuous pain or discomfort in one area of the breast or armpit that does not fluctuate with your menstrual cycle.

Noticed a new symptom?
Do not book a routine screening. Read our guide on what to expect during a clinical breast assessment.

Due for routine screening?
Learn more about age guidelines, HPB Screen for Life subsidies, and booking steps in our Singapore mammogram guide.

Most breast changes are benign, but a medical review provides clear answers and peace of mind. If you have noticed a new or persistent change, book a consultation at a HMI clinic today.

1. Lim, Z.L. et al. (2022) 'Mammography screening is associated with more favourable breast cancer tumour characteristics and better overall survival: case-only analysis of 3739 Asian breast cancer patients', BMC Medicine, 20(1), p.239. doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02440-y. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35922814/
2. Huang, N. et al. (2022) 'The Efficacy of Clinical Breast Exams and Breast Self-Exams in Detecting Malignancy or Positive Ultrasound Findings', Cureus, 14(2), p.e22464. doi:10.7759/cureus.22464. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35371742/
3. Menon, G., Alkabban, F. and Ferguson, T. (2025) 'Breast Cancer', in StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29493913/
4. Kulkarni, D. (2020) 'Clinical Presentations of Breast Disorders in Pregnancy and Lactation', Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1252, pp.33–39. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-41596-9_5. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32816260/
5. Athanasiou, A. et al. (2025) 'ESR Essentials: diagnostic work-up in patients with symptomatic breast disease-practice recommendations by the European Society of Breast Imaging', European Radiology, 35(2), pp.723–732. doi:10.1007/s00330-024-10980-5. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39085641/
6. Katsura, C. et al. (2022) 'Breast cancer: presentation, investigation and management', British Journal of Hospital Medicine (London), 83(2), pp.1-7. doi:10.12968/hmed.2021.0459. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35243878/

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