What to look for

Whether you have had breast conserving surgery or a mastectomy (with or without reconstruction), it is important to remain breast aware after your treatment, even if you are still having follow-up appointments or regular mammograms.

After treatment for breast cancer it can be difficult to know how your breast or scar area should feel. The area around the scar may feel lumpy, numb or sensitive. You will get to know how it looks and feels so you know what is normal for you. This will help you to feel more confident about noticing changes and reporting them early to your GP (local doctor) or breast care nurse. It is also important to be aware of any new changes in the other breast.

Changes to look and feel for in the breast and chest wall area:

• change in shape or size
• a lump or thickening that feels different 
• change in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling
• swelling in the upper arm
• pain 
• nipple discharge
• redness or a rash on the skin and/or around the nipple
• an inverted (pulled in) nipple or changes in the position or shape of the nipple
• a swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone.

Mammograms

Following your treatment, you will be invited to have regular mammograms (breast x-ray), in addition to looking and feeling for any changes. If you have had a mastectomy, a mammogram will be completed on your other breast.

You will be offered yearly mammograms for five years after your diagnosis of breast cancer. After this time, and depending on your age, your hospital will be able to advise you when you will be invited to join the National Health Breast Screening Programme.

Whether you have had breast conserving surgery or a mastectomy (with or without reconstruction), it is important to remain breast aware after your treatment, even if you are still having follow-up appointments or regular mammograms.

Symptoms of secondary breast cancer

It is difficult to list all the symptoms of secondary breast cancer but any changes that are new and that don’t improve over several weeks and have no obvious cause need to be checked out by a doctor or nurse from your specialist team.

Some of these symptoms, such as tiredness, loss of appetite and pain, can be normal side effects of cancer treatment. Others may be as a result of other conditions. For example, aches and pains in the bones may be due to ageing, arthritis or drug treatment side effects. Breathlessness and chest pain can be symptoms of a bad cold.

Symptoms you are advised to report include:

• pain in the back or hips that does not improve with pain relief and which is often worse at night
• unexplained weight loss and a loss of appetite
• a constant feeling of nausea
• discomfort or swelling under the ribs or across the upper abdomen
• feeling constantly tired
• a dry cough or feeling of breathless
• severe headaches – usually worse in the mornings.

If you have any persistent or unexplained symptoms the best thing to do is to talk to your specialist team or breast care nurse, who can investigate the various possible causes.