Breast texture/appearance change
Breast cancer alters the texture of the breast skin in many people. These changes may be due to inflammation. Skin texture changes you may observe on your breasts if you have breast cancer include:
- Crusting or flaking of the skin of the breast, especially around the areolas or nipples
- Thickening of the skin in any part of the breasts
- Rashes may appear on the skin
- The skin may look pitted like the bark of an orange
Texture changes are often associated with a rare type of breast cancer known as Paget’s disease.
Aside from texture changes, you may feel an itching or burning sensation [6] on the skin of your breasts. This symptom is relatively uncommon. You may also develop sores on the breast. Sores on the breast are often a sign that your breast cancer has advanced.
You may also notice that some part of the breast has a red patch that looks like a bruise. If you have not recently been sustained a bruise, this could be a sign of breast cancer. If the skin does not return to normal after a recent bruise, you should also see a doctor.
Breast cancer can also make the skin of the breasts dimpled or slightly depressed.