The symptoms of breast cancer depend on the severity of the cancer and whether there are any signs of metastasis or recurrence. It is important to emphasize that over 90% of breast cancer cases do not involve pain as a symptom. This means that the earliest symptoms of breast cancer are usually determined by whether the cancer is in its early or late stages.

Early-stage breast cancer may have no symptoms at all, or there may be signs such as a lump or hard nodule in the breast, discharge from the nipple, especially coffee-colored or bloody discharge. Late-stage symptoms can include changes in the skin of the breast resembling the texture of an orange peel, palpable large lymph nodes in the armpit that are hard but neither painful nor itchy. If the cancer has metastasized to the lungs, chest cavity, pleura, liver, bones, or head, symptoms might include chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, abdominal distention, bone pain or fractures, as well as headaches, eye pressure, and dizziness, among others.

Therefore, the symptoms of breast disease depend on whether the cancer is in its early stages; if it is in a late stage and has metastasized to other parts, corresponding symptoms will be present. It is also important to remember that early-stage breast cancer may not show any symptoms at all.