My wife felt completely normal up until she started chemo. She only knew about her lump after she felt it by accident in the shower. Unless the cancer is affecting other areas of the body, cancer symptoms in the breast are usually restricted to just the breast. What those symptoms may or may not be are purely down to that individual.

i've said it before on here, but cancer tends to only cause issues if it's pressing against a structure with nerves, blocking something or stretching something with nerves. Cancer itself tends to be painless as it has no nerves.

However, not all cancers are the same. Some excrete hormones or proteins that can cause general symptoms such as some neuroendocrine cancer tumours.

Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear that you are having investigations  on your breast. Doctors refer people to breast clinics when they have one or two symptoms. You definitely don't have to have all the symptoms. Breast cancer on the whole is not painful and it does not make you feel 'poorly'.  We do have some information on breast symptoms on our website which you can see here

The vast majority of women who are referred to breast clinics do not have cancer but often GP's refer patients to find out the cause of someone's symptoms.

Breast Cancer Now have produced some information on what to expect at a breast clinic which you can look at here

You may find it helpful to read our information on family history of breast cancer so you can do some background reading before your appointment. Have a look here

I do hope some of these links may be helpful.

You are more then welcome to ring and speak to one of the helpline nurses. We are here 9-5 Monday to Friday Freephone 0808 800 4040

All the Best,

Catherine

Hello

This is a great help, thank you so much for sharing your's and your wife's experience, I really appreciate it. You have explained it really well too. 

Thank you