Breast Cancer Symptoms and Treatment: What to Know

Found a breast lump or change?

Have it evaluated by Dr. Murtaza Shakir, a board-certified general surgeon who is also board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology, in Katy or Sugar Land. Call (713) 955-9191, or send your details and our team will call you back.

THE SHORT ANSWER

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, but swelling, skin dimpling or redness, nipple changes, discharge and swollen lymph nodes under the arm can also be signs. Most breast lumps are not cancer. Imaging and a biopsy confirm the diagnosis, and treatment usually includes surgery, often combined with other therapies.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is an abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast. It most often begins in the cells lining the milk ducts, which carry milk to the nipple, or the lobules, the small glands where milk is made. Over time these cells can build up and form a lump that can be felt or seen on imaging.

Doctors describe breast cancer by how far it has grown:

In situ: abnormal cells stay within the lining where they started.
Invasive: the cancer has grown from where it began into the surrounding breast tissue. Most breast cancers that are diagnosed are invasive.
Early stage: invasive cancer that is still mostly confined to where it began, though it may involve some nearby tissue. Symptoms can be subtle or absent.
Locally advanced: the cancer has spread more extensively within the breast or to nearby lymph nodes.
Metastatic (advanced): the cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby nodes to other organs.

“Invasive” sounds alarming, but it is not the same as metastatic. Many invasive breast cancers are found at an early stage, when surgery and other treatments work best.

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast. The American Cancer Society notes that most breast lumps are not cancer, and that a painless, hard lump with irregular edges is more concerning, although cancer can also be soft, round, tender or painful. Other signs to watch for include:

Changes in size or shape: any noticeable change in the contour of the breast
Skin changes: dimpling, puckering, redness, or thickened, dry or flaky skin on the breast or nipple
Nipple changes: a nipple that turns inward, or discharge other than breast milk
Swelling: of all or part of the breast, even without a lump you can feel
Swollen lymph nodes: under the arm or near the collarbone
Pain: breast pain is more often caused by benign conditions, but persistent or unexplained pain should be checked

Hormonal changes from the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause or hormone medicines, as well as benign conditions, can cause some of these changes. That is why a new finding needs an exam rather than a guess.

How Soon Should a Breast Change Be Checked?

Any new or changing breast lump, or any of the changes above, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional promptly, promptly, without waiting months. Breast cancer is rarely an emergency-room problem, but delay can let a treatable cancer grow.

Book an appointment for a new lump, skin dimpling, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge or a lump in the armpit
Ask for a quicker visit if a lump is growing, or the breast becomes red, swollen and thickened
Seek same-day care for a hot, painful, red breast with fever
Do not skip your next screening mammogram because a previous one was normal; mammograms do not find every cancer

Early detection is one of the most important factors in successful treatment. Regular mammograms, clinical breast exams and knowing how your own breasts normally look and feel all help.

When Should You Start Getting Mammograms?

For women at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends a screening mammogram every two years from age 40 through 74. Women with a family history, a known genetic mutation or other risk factors may need to start earlier or have additional imaging, which is a decision to make with your doctor.

Screening mammogram: checks for breast cancer in people without symptoms.
Diagnostic mammogram: used when a lump or other symptom is present, or to follow up a screening finding. It takes more detailed views of the area of concern.

On the day of a mammogram, avoid deodorant, antiperspirant, perfume, powder or lotion on the breasts and underarms, because they can show up on the images and affect quality.

Have an Abnormal Mammogram or Biopsy Result?

Dr. Murtaza Shakir reviews imaging and biopsy results and explains surgical options for patients in Katy and Sugar Land. Call (713) 955-9191 to arrange a consultation.

Request a consultation → (713) 955-9191

How Do Doctors Diagnose Breast Cancer?

Doctors diagnose breast cancer with imaging to find and map a suspicious area, followed by a biopsy. The National Cancer Institute states that a biopsy is the only sure way to diagnose breast cancer.

Imaging

Diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound: usually the first tests for a lump or other change.
Breast MRI: used to screen some people at high risk, such as those with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or a strong family history. It can also help show the true size of a cancer and whether there is more than one tumor, and it may add information in dense breast tissue, where mammograms can be less effective. Tell your doctor about breast implants, metal implants, a pacemaker or certain tattoos, because MRI uses strong magnets, and about allergies or kidney problems, because contrast dye may be used.

Biopsy

A biopsy is done when imaging or an exam finds a suspicious area. The area is numbed with local anesthesia, and tissue is removed by one of these methods, depending on how much tissue is needed:

Fine-needle aspiration: a thin needle removes fluid or cells.
Core-needle biopsy: a wider needle removes small cylinders of tissue.
Surgical biopsy: part of the lump (incisional) or all of it (excisional) is removed.

If cancer is found, the tissue is tested for hormone receptors and HER2, which helps guide treatment. Some patients also need scans such as CT, bone scan or PET to check for spread.

What Are the Surgical Options for Breast Cancer?

The main operations for breast cancer are breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) and mastectomy, often combined with surgery on the underarm lymph nodes. Surgery is planned once the diagnosis is confirmed and after a preoperative evaluation of the tumor’s size, location and stage and your overall health.

Lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery): removes the cancer with a rim of healthy tissue and leaves the rest of the breast. Radiation usually follows. The American Cancer Society notes that survival is the same for lumpectomy with radiation as for mastectomy in suitable patients.
Mastectomy: removes the entire breast. Types include simple (total), modified radical and radical mastectomy, depending on how much tissue must be removed.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy: removes only the first few lymph nodes where cancer is most likely to spread, to check whether it has spread. It carries a lower risk of arm swelling.
Axillary lymph node dissection: removes more underarm lymph nodes, usually when cancer is known to be in them.
Reconstruction: rebuilds the breast shape, either at the same time as a mastectomy or later. It is best discussed with your breast surgeon and a plastic surgeon before the cancer operation.

Many patients also need radiation or medicines that treat the whole body, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy. Your cancer care team decides the order of these treatments together.

How Do Surgeons Decide Between Lumpectomy and Mastectomy?

Surgeons decide by weighing the size of the tumor against the size of the breast, where it sits, how many areas of cancer there are, the stage, and what matters most to you. Both operations can be good choices, and the decision is often shared.

Tumor and breast size: a small tumor in a larger breast can often be removed with a good cosmetic result.
Number of tumors: cancer in several areas of the breast may favor mastectomy.
Ability to have radiation: lumpectomy usually depends on receiving radiation afterward.
Lymph node status: exam and imaging of the armpit guide whether a sentinel node biopsy or a larger node operation is planned.
Your goals: some patients strongly prefer to keep the breast, while others prefer mastectomy for peace of mind.

When cancer has already spread to distant organs, the American Cancer Society notes that surgery is very unlikely to cure it, and the goal may be relieving symptoms. It is reasonable to ask your surgeon whether the aim of an operation is cure or symptom control. Our pre-operative care page explains how to prepare for surgery.

Where Can Patients in Katy, Sugar Land and Houston Get a Breast Cancer Evaluation?

Patients from Katy, Sugar Land and the wider Houston area can see Dr. Murtaza Shakir at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas for evaluation of breast lumps and surgical breast cancer treatment. Dr. Shakir is a board-certified general surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology, training focused on the surgical care of cancer.

Bring your mammogram, ultrasound or MRI reports, and images if you have them
Bring any biopsy or pathology reports
Note your family history of breast, ovarian or other cancers and any genetic test results

Learn more about surgical oncology, what a surgical oncologist does, general surgery and our surgical care for Houston patients. You can also meet Dr. Shakir, call (713) 955-9191 or request a consultation.

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon About Breast Cancer

What type and stage of breast cancer do I have, and what did the hormone receptor and HER2 tests show?
Am I a candidate for lumpectomy, or do you recommend mastectomy, and why?
Will I need a sentinel lymph node biopsy or more lymph node surgery?
Will I need radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy, and in what order?
Should I meet a plastic surgeon about reconstruction before surgery?
Do I need genetic testing?
What will recovery look like, and when can I return to work?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are most breast lumps cancer?

No. Most breast lumps are benign. Still, any new or changing lump should be checked, because cancer cannot be ruled out by feel alone.

Does breast cancer hurt?

Often it does not. A painless, hard lump is more concerning than a tender one, although some cancers do cause pain. Breast pain alone is usually caused by benign conditions, but persistent pain deserves an exam.

Is a lumpectomy as effective as a mastectomy?

For suitable patients, lumpectomy followed by radiation has the same survival as mastectomy, according to the American Cancer Society. The right choice depends on tumor size, location, number of tumors and your preferences.

What is the difference between invasive and metastatic breast cancer?

Invasive breast cancer has grown into the surrounding breast tissue but may still be early stage. Metastatic breast cancer has spread outside the breast and nearby nodes to other organs and is treated differently.

What age should I start getting mammograms?

The USPSTF recommends screening every two years from age 40 to 74 for women at average risk. If you have a strong family history or a genetic mutation, ask your doctor whether to start earlier or add MRI.

Key Takeaway

A new breast lump or change should be checked promptly, even though most lumps are not cancer. Imaging and a biopsy confirm the diagnosis, and treatment usually centers on lumpectomy or mastectomy with lymph node surgery, often combined with other therapies. Regular screening and early evaluation give the best chance of successful treatment.

Sources and Further Reading

This article is general education, not personal medical advice. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Meet the Surgeon

Dr. Murtaza Shakir is a board-certified General Surgeon and is board certified in Complex General Surgical Oncology. He earned his medical degree at Aga Khan University, completed General Surgery residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and a two-year Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He sees patients at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas in Katy and Sugar Land.

Schedule a Breast Cancer Evaluation

Have a breast lump, abnormal mammogram or biopsy result reviewed by Dr. Shakir in Katy or Sugar Land.

This page provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. For severe abdominal pain or other emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Last updated October 16, 2026.