Nine out of ten breast lumps turn out not to be cancer, but if your lump persists you need to tell your GP, who can then examine you and decide whether to send you to hospital for tests.

You should also look out for:

• changes in the shape or position of your nipple
  
   
• an ulcer or sore area of skin on the breast
  
   
• puckering of the skin.

Discharge or bleeding from the nipple and pain without a lump are rarely signs of breast cancer, but you should ask your GP to check these out for you.

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare cancer that can be hard to diagnose. The most usual signs are warmth, redness or swelling of the breast, which may develop quite quickly. However, these problems may also be caused by a breast infection (mastitis).