You’ve probably heard that you should see a doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts, since lumps and other anomalies can be signs of breast cancer. But do you even know what changes you’re looking for? Let these lemons explain.


The beginnings of breast cancer can feel or look like a lump, but they can also include dimpled skin, leaking fluid, or an indentation in the breast. While breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and may have some of these characteristics as part of their normal appearance (some people just have retracted nipples, for example), if something changes over time, it’s a good idea to get it checked out.

You may remember being told that it’s good to do self-exams every now and then to feel for lumps, but research shows that teaching women to examine themselves doesn’t change how many people eventually die from breast cancer. The American Cancer Society, among others, does not recommend self-exams as a must-do item. But they still say that you should be aware of what your breasts normally look and feel like, and go to the doctor if you happen to notice any changes.


The lemon image comes from a small nonprofit called Worldwide Breast Cancer, whose founder Corinne Beaumont was looking for a way to show breast cancer symptoms without relying on vague line drawings. Text descriptions can get the message across, but they don’t communicate well in places where not everybody can read or where language barriers can be an issue. Beaumont earned a PhD in graphic design with her research that showed that this and related images helped women understand what symptoms of breast cancer really look like.

Know Your Lemons | Worldwide Breast Cancer