Why Your Breasts Feel Itchy

"Itchy breasts is a common complaint among patients" says, Dr. Tan Yia Swam, a breast surgeon in Singapore. "It typically is due to dry skin, minor allergies, eczema, etc. That being said, 1 in 1,000 MIGHT be a manifestation of cancer." 

Itching is not typically considered a common symptom of breast cancer. However, in rare cases, breast cancer can cause itching, particularly in the area around the breast or nipple.

In some cases, itching can be caused by Paget's disease, a rare form of breast cancer that affects the skin of the nipple and areola. Paget's disease can cause itching, redness, scaling, and flaking of the skin in the affected area.

Itching is also a common symptom for Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). Itchiness alongside tenderness, redness, and warmth are also common symptoms of a breast infection or inflammation, such as mastitis if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Because these problems are much more common than IBC, your doctor might suspect infection at first as a cause and treat you with antibiotics. Treatment with antibiotics may be a good first step, but if your symptoms don’t get better in 7 to 10 days, more tests need to be done to look for cancer. Follow this link for more info.

Itching can also be a side effect of some breast cancer treatments, such as hormonal therapies or radiation therapy. If you experience itching in the breast or nipple area, it is important to talk to your doctor to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. Download and fill out a personalized risk assessment to review with your doctor. If the symptoms persist, do check back with the doctor again for any additional tests that might be needed.

However, it is important to note that itching alone is not a reliable indicator of breast cancer. Other more common breast cancer symptoms include a lump, thickening in the breast, changes in breast shape or size, nipple discharge, changes to the skin of the breast, such as dimpling or puckering. To learn more about the different signs and symptoms of breast cancer and to keep track of changes download the free Know Your Lemons app. 

As always, if you notice anything that is not normal for your breasts, bring your concerns to your doctor.