Breast lumps are bumps, bulges, protrusions or swelling in a localized area of the breast that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue that surrounds it, or from the breast tissue of the same area on the other breast in comparison.
There are a number of reasons why breast lumps can develop, but most of them are not cancerous nor do they pose any risk to the women that have them. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), while breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. Yet, ACS also shares that ‘the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer. This also means there is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.’
Cancer is not the only reason why breast lumps can occur. Other causes include trauma, infection, cyst, fibroadenoma, fat necrosis, or fibrocystic breasts. While breast lumps can also develop in males, they are a much more common occurrence in females.
Anyone that detects a breast lump should immediately consult with a medical professional.
Causes of Breast Lumps
The female breast is made up of different types of tissue. The two main types of tissue are milk glands, which as the name suggests is where milk is made, and milk ducts or tubes, which is where the milk passes through to get to the nipple at the center of the breast.
Depending on the function of the breast, the tissue composition can also vary. For example, women that are breastfeeding will notice a number of changes to her breast, including size, sensation and function. The female breast also has fatty tissues, nerves, fibrous connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymph nodes.
Every portion of the female breast can respond differently, depending on the changes in one’s body chemistry. These changes can also affect the texture and sensations of the breast while possibly affecting the development of breast lumps as well.
Some of the possibly causes of breast lumps are cysts, an abscess or infection, fat necrosis, adenoma or fibroadenoma, lipoma and breast cancer.
While a number of breast lumps can feel like they have a distinct border, others can feel like there is a ‘general area of thickened tissue.’
Noncancerous Breast Lumps
The size, texture and feel of breast lumps can differ greatly from one to another. A large part of the consistency actually helps a physician properly diagnose the type of lump it is.
1. Breast Cysts
A Breast cyst is a noncancerous – or benign – fluid-filled sac within the breast. It normally feels smooth and rubbery just under the skin. And while some breast cysts are painful, others can be the opposite, and incredibly tender to the touch. Notably, breast cysts are quite rare in women aged 50 and above. Although it’s not exactly clear what causes a breast cyst to form, they can develop as a response to hormones related to menstruation.
Cysts normally range is sizes, and they can be so small that they can only be seen using an ultrasound scan, and grow to anywhere between 2.5 and 5 centimeters in size. Big cysts tend to put pressure on other breast tissue, which can be incredibly uncomfortable.
Sebaceous cysts happen when the ducts of the sebaceous – or oil glands – become blocked, which can then become a closed sac or make a cyst develop underneath the skin. These can eventually grow bigger due to injury or possibly from hormone stimulation. Although sebaceous cysts do not need treatment, if they become too bothersome or painful, they can be surgically removed.
2. Abscesses
An abscess is a collection of pus that has gathered in the body’s tissue. While they can be quite painful, they are noncancerous and are usually caused by bacteria. When they occur, the skin is normally quite red surrounding the mass and it can feel hard, solid and hot. Some women experience this when they are breast feeding due to blocked milk ducts.
3. Adenoma
An adenoma is described as an abnormal growth of the glandular tissue in the breast that is normally noncancerous. The most common type of adenoma in the breast is called fibroadenomas, which normally affects women aged 30 years old and younger, although some older women have experienced them as well. They are said to be generally round and firm to touch with smooth borders. They also account for 50 percent of breast biopsies but normally are not cancerous in nature and they usually go away on their own.
4. Intraductal Papillomas
Intraductal papillomas are described as wart-like growths that develop in the breast ducts, normally underneath the nipple. In some instances, they even have bloody discharge. For younger women, they normally have a multiple number of growths while women that are nearer menopause only have one growth.
5. Fat Necrosis and Lipoma
When the fatty tissue within the breast gets broken down or damaged, oftentimes, fat necrosis can happen. While they are normally noncancerous lumps that form, they are often painful with discharge with the skin dimpling over the portion where the lump has formed.
A lipoma is described to be a soft, noncancerous lump that is painless and usually movable. It is considered to be a fatty, benign tumor.
Cancerous Breast Lumps
When it comes to cancerous breast lumps, it normally feels firm or hard. It is also usually irregular in shape, and may feel as if it is completely stuck to the skin or within the deep tissue of the breast.
In the earlier stages of breast cancer, it’s said that it isn’t usually painful. It can grow or develop in any portion of the breast or nipple, but it is more common in the upper outer quadrants of the breast.
There are some malignant tumors that are painful, which normally happens when they have grown quite large in size. They can also cause other structures within in the breast to be compressed, they can ulcerate or even grow through the skin.
How To Check for Lumps
There are five steps to do a breast self-examination. It’s incredibly important for women to be familiar with their bodies, especially their breasts. By knowing how their breasts look and feel, it also makes it easier to recognize any possible changes or lumps.
Here are the guidelines to follow when doing a self-examination:
- Look in a mirror to check the size and shape of your breasts, as well as notice the color of the breasts and more importantly the areolas. Look closely for any visible swellings, lumps or skin changes or dimpling.
- Raise your arms and repeat Step 1 to see if there are any changes .
- Check the nipple for discharge that is watery, milky, yellow or has blood. (Of course this is different for women that are currently breastfeeding)
- Life down and feel the breasts in firm, smooth motions all around the breast to feel for any changes, swelling, tenderness of lumps. Be sure to check the armpit areas and closer to the ribcage area.
- Repeat Step 4 while standing or sitting, normally within the shower for convenience.
When Is Treatment Needed?
Although a large amount of lumps are usually benign, it is still important to see a doctor immediately if you notice any breast lumps at any time.
A doctor will do a physical examination first, then depending on the case, may recommend an ultrasound scan or mammogram to further study the lump. Normally, if it is a cyst or a fibrous lump, the doctor will probably recommend to monitor the lump to see if it grows or changes.
If it’s an abscess, the doctor might choose to do a procedure where he cuts it and drains it, after which, they’ll prescribe antibiotics to make sure no infection occurs afterwards.
But if the doctor suspects cancer, they will probably suggest to have a biopsy in order to see if it’s malignant or benign. If malignant, treatment will depend on the case, whether the patient will require surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, all dependent on the stage of cancer it’s in.
Also, a test for changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes could be recommended as well. When this gene is present and breast cancer is seen, some patients opt to have a preventive surgery in order to prevent recurrence in the future.
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