Breast cancer can show up on the skin. Here's what to know

Key Points:

• Up to 10% of breast cancer patients are initially diagnosed due to skin changes rather than lumps, with symptoms like discoloration, rash, swelling, and nipple inversion potentially indicating the disease.
• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare and aggressive form comprising 1% to 5% of cases, often presents with skin changes instead of lumps and can be mistaken for infections or eczema, making diagnosis challenging.
• Breast cancer treatments frequently cause skin, hair, and nail side effects, affecting up to 94% of patients, with radiation therapy commonly leading to skin irritation, redness, and peeling.
• Hair loss is a highly feared side effect, impacting over 70% of patients, but scalp cooling during chemotherapy can help preserve hair in many cases; dermatologists can assist in managing these and other treatment-related skin changes.
• Early involvement of dermatologists is recommended to establish baselines, manage side effects, and support patients through diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the importance of reporting new or persistent skin changes to healthcare providers.