• Women younger than 30 will find a lump just before get there period. The doctor or nurse might ask them to wait until the period is over and then check if the lump is still there. Women younger than 30 often have lumps that are brought on by normal hormone changes. These lumps usually go away after a woman has her period. Lump does not go away after the period ends; will need a breast exam and 1 or more tests. Common tests used to evaluate breast lumps include:
• Breast ultrasound — this is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of breast. It can show whether lump is solid or filled with fluid.
• Breast biopsy — during a biopsy, a doctor will take 1 or more tiny samples of the lump using a needle. The samples can go to the lab and be checked for cancer or other problems.
• Mammogram — Mammograms are special X-rays of the breast. They are not usually done on women younger than 30. But might have a mammogram, if ultrasound does not give enough information.
• Women age 30 and older find a breast lump; will need a breast exam and mammogram. Will also need to have a breast ultrasound and might need a biopsy.

If it turns out lump is filled with fluid, it is called a “cyst.” Cysts are not usually caused by cancer. They only need to be treated if they cause pain or discomfort. Treatment usually involves draining the fluid with a needle.

If it turns out that lump is solid, will need a biopsy to find out what kind of cells are inside the lump. The biopsy will show whether it will be cancer. Not all solid lumps are caused by cancer.

Breast pain or tenderness — the most common cause of breast pain is the hormone changes that happen during a woman's monthly cycle. When hormone changes are the cause of pain, they usually cause pain in both breasts, and the pain usually starts a few days before the woman’s period. Pain that comes and goes because of changes in hormones is not usually caused by breast cancer or other serious problems. Hormone medicines, such as the birth control pill, can also cause breast pain.

Other causes of breast pain include wearing a bra that is too tight or too loose, drinking coffee and smoking, and infection. (If breast is red and tender, it could be infected.)

Nipple discharge — if fluid or blood is leaking from 1 or both of the nipples, should see the doctor or nurse. Common reasons for nipple discharge include:

• Recent childbirth — Women who had a baby in the last year often leak fluid that looks like milk.
• Hormone imbalances
• Side effects from medicines

Many women who have no health problems can squeeze out a small amount of yellow, green, or brown fluid from their nipples. This is usually nothing to worry about, and it is best not to squeeze your nipples. But if the discharge is clear or bloody, or happens without squeezing, it could signal a problem or possibly cancer.

Inverted nipples — many women are born with nipples that naturally invert (point inward) at times and evert (poke out) at other times. Other women find that their nipples invert after they have breast-fed. Nipple inversion of this type is nothing to worry about.

If nipples have always pointed out and then start to invert for no reason, should see the doctor or nurse. He or she will probably give a breast exam and order a mammogram. Most causes of nipple inversion are not serious. But in some cases, this is the first sign of a breast cancer.

Breast skin changes — it develops some sort of skin problem on or near breast and it does not get better within a few days, see the doctor or nurse. The skin on the breast can:

• Become itchy, red, or swollen
• Form scales or crust over
• Form dimples
• Look swollen, or pitted, like the skin of an orange

These kinds of skin changes are not usually caused by anything serious. But in rare cases they can be a sign of uncommon forms of breast cancer. The doctor or nurse can look at the breasts and see if they need any tests or a biopsy.

A doctor or nurse: if a person have new breast problem, make an appointment to see a doctor or nurse within a few weeks. Breast problems are not usually an emergency. But it should get checked out as soon as possible. If there is something serious going on, it’s important to find out quickly. The doctor or nurse might be able to tell what’s happening just by doing an exam.