3. Sudden nipple discharge
It is normal for a woman to experience nipple discharging when she is pregnant or nursing. If a woman has a sudden discharge and is not pregnant or nursing, this could be cause for concern. Many conditions can cause nipple drainage, and they are not all cancerous. Fibrocystic changes, or a benign tumor called a papilloma can cause discharge.
Other factors can cause nipple drainage, including abscesses, clogged ducts in the milk, endocrine disorder, and birth-control pills. If the discharge is sudden, affects only one breast and contains blood, it is cause for concern. Breast cancer can be diagnosed if only one breast is affected and there is a lump. The discharge is bloody, persistent and spontaneous.