Skip to main content

When should I speak to a doctor?

A guide to health problems that should cause you to contact your doctor.

Anything out of the ordinary

You should speak to your GP if you notice anything changing with your breasts.

Including any of the following things.

Brs Why Is Screening Important

Lumps, bumps and thickening

Any lumps, bumps or thickened tissue in your breast.

Most breast lumps are not cancer, but it is always best to have them checked by your doctor.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - there is a lump on one breast

Armpits

A lump or swelling in either of your armpits.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - there is a lump in one of the armpits

Size and shape

A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - one breast is larger than the other

Leaking nipple or nipples

Leaking from one or both of your nipples. 

This may be streaked with blood.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - there is a droplet from one of the nipples

Dimples

Dimples or skin on your breast that pulls inwards.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - there is a dimple on the underside of one of the breasts

Changes with your nipples

Skin changes on the nipple.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - there is a crusting appearance on one of the nipples

Changes with your nipple

A nipple that becomes turned in.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - one nipple is inverted (turned inwards)

Changes with your skin

Skin on your breast that looks like orange peel.

An illustration of a woman's breasts - there is an 'orange peel' appearance on one breast

Important information

Breast pain

Breast pain is not a sign of breast cancer.

A woman holding one of her clothed breasts. There is a glowing red area over the breast, signifying pain or discomfort

Previous or next page

Icon of a house

Back to the beginning

Let's go back to the beginning to look at:

Breast screening (Easy Read)
A graphic of a backward pointing arrow

Previous page

Let's go back and look at:

What keeps me healthy
A graphic of a forward pointing arrow

Next page

Let's move on and look at:

Important words

Last updated: 19 February 2025

Something wrong or missing on this page?


Contact the Web Manager to ask for corrections or to add information.

Head Office

NHS Highland
Assynt House
Beechwood Park
Inverness
IV2 3BW

Feedback

Phone