(HealthDay News) -- Checking your breasts regularly can help you detect any changes early.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation explains what to look for during a breast self-exam:

  • Any thickening, hard knots or lumps in the breasts or underarm.
  • A darkening of the skin, or redness, swelling or warmth.
  • Any changes in the size or shape of the breast, including puckering or dimpling.
  • Any rash or sores that are itchy or scaly.
  • A depressed area of the nipple, or in any other part of the breast.
  • Sudden discharge from the nipple.
  • Sudden pain that doesn't subside.