Skin Changes and Breast Cancer

A woman's breasts are made of specialised tissues supplied by blood vessels, lymph nodes and nerves. 

Over a period of time, the malignant tumour cells can invade the nearby healthy tissues such as the axillary lymph nodes (found in the underarm) and slowly move to other parts of the body. 

Breast Skin Changes 

A symptom of Breast Cancer are certain skin changes on the breast. These skin changes can include:

• Skin texture (flakiness or thickening)
• Inflammation, Skin Tightness or Breast Swelling
• Puckering, 
• Dimpling,
• A rash, or 
• Redness of the skin of the breast. 

Some people have a rash or redness of the nipple and the surrounding skin. 

The skin might look like orange peel or the texture might feel different. Sometimes this can be caused by other breast conditions as well.

Skin & Nipple Changes 

There are many causes of skin changes of the nipple.

Nipple Eczema 

Eczema or dermatitis affecting the skin of the nipple, particularly if it becomes infected, can cause a weeping discharge associated with crusting of the nipple. 

Punch biopsies of the affected skin may be required to rule out Paget's disease. Treatment is with steroid based creams, the same as for eczema elsewhere in the body.

Paget's Disease of the Nipple

Paget's disease of the nipple is an uncommon type of breast cancer in which cancer cells grow in the nipple-areolar complex. 

Paget’s disease causes the nipple skin to become red, painful, scaly and sometimes ulcerated, and it may be associated with blood-stained or clear nipple discharge.

Other Breast Cancer Symptoms

Initially, breast cancer may or may not cause any symptoms. 

While the first sign of cancer is a lump or mass in the breast. The lump is usually 

• Painless,
• Hard but may be tender and soft at times,
• Uneven edged 

Any unusual signs such as 

• swelling of the breast, 
• skin irritation, 
• pain in the breast or nipple, 
• nipple turning inwards, 
• redness or thickening of nipple or breast skin, 
• nipple discharge, or
• lump in the underarm area 

may indicate breast cancer.