Breasts change a lot over a woman's life. This information will explain what normal changes are and why they have occurred. At some stage in their lives, many women have a change in their breast that is different to their usual hormonal changes. To be confident that your breast change is not cancer or another disease, your doctor will consider:. Breasts are made up of milk systems, fat, lymph nodes, veins and nerves. They do not have muscles, but there is some fibrous tissue.

Early detection of breast cancer, when the tumour is still small, results in better outcomes. In the early stages of breast cancer, when a tumour is small, there is usually no pain and no obvious signs and symptoms. It may not be easy to feel a lump, so screening mammography is the best method of detection. However, as the cancer grows, obvious changes in the breast may appear, and these need to be checked by your doctor:.

Breast pain can be a symptom of cancer. If you have any symptoms that worry you, be sure to see your doctor right away. Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer.