A complete guide to breast lumps

Verified by Dr. Nita S. Nair, Lead Consultant Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai.

Breast lumps and pain are the most common cause of patients presenting to a breast clinic. Pain is often not related to cancer and surely not a sign of early breast cancer. Changes in breast tissues, related to hormones or cancer can cause the formation of lumps. A painless lump needs to be evaluated, 8/10 times it is not related to cancer but needs to be evaluated and confirmed.

What are breast lumps?

Breast lumps refer to the overgrowth of tissues developing inside your breasts. There are many types of breast lumps, and each type may look and feel different.

Upon touching your breasts, you might notice:

• A firm and a hard area within the breasts.
• Distinct lumps with definite borders.
• One breast is larger than the other.
• A slightly thicker area, which is different from the surrounding tissues in your breasts
• Noticeable changes in the nipples, such as a spontaneous discharge of fluid from the nipples or inverted nipples
• Persistent tenderness or pain in the breasts, which might increase during your menstrual cycle
• Other changes in the breasts, such as dimpling or redness around the skin

In most cases, breast lumps are benign, i.e., noncancerous. However, in some cases, breast lumps can be a sign of breast cancer as well.

Book an appointment with our breast disease specialist, Dr. Nita S. Nair, Lead Consultant Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai. Call 022 6280 6280.

What are the causes of breast lumps?

The possible causes of breast lumps include:

• Fibrocystic breast changes

Fibrocystic breast changes occur due to hormonal changes during menstruation. You may develop breast lumps that increase in tenderness and size a few days before your menstrual cycle.

Most often these lumps are cysts, which can grow in size related to hormones released around your menstrual cycle. Simple cysts are tiny sacs filled with fluid. Can affect both the breasts and differ in size and number. The size and tenderness of the cysts usually change with your menstrual cycle. More often, fibrocystic changes are seen in women in their 40s.

• Fibroadenomas

Fibroadenomas are the most common type of benign breast lumps. Upon touch, they feel like smooth, solid, and rubbery lumps that feel very mobile inside the breast. Usually, these lumps are painless. More often, fibroadenomas are found in women between the age group of 20 and 30 years.

• Traumatic fat necrosis

It usually happens during an injury to the breast. In most cases, you may not even remember the injury. The injury causes lump formation in your breasts. These lumps are usually made up of fat and are round, painless, and firm.

• Abscess/ Infection

These lumps are usually painful and associated with skin changes such as redness of the skin and warmth.

• Cancer

The lump is firm and painless and doesn’t move freely within the breast.

When should you visit the doctor?

Although most breast lumps are benign, you should consult your doctor if you notice the following symptoms:

• A new lump in your breasts
• Lumps that do not go away after your menstrual cycle
• Bloody discharge from your nipples
• Lumps that change or grow over a period
• Changes are seen in and around your breast
• Bruises or reddening on your breasts for no reason
• Development of an inverted nipple

Book an appointment with our breast disease specialist, Dr. Nita S. Nair, Lead Consultant Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai. Call 022 6280 6280.

Treatment of breast lumps

Depending on the cause and severity of your breast lumps, the doctor will devise a treatment plan for you.

• If the doctor diagnoses a breast infection, he/she may prescribe antibiotics for the infection.
• If a cyst is found in the breast tissue, the doctor will drain it. In most cases, cysts go away once they are drained.

If the lumps turn out to be breast cancer, the doctor may prescribe the following treatment methods:

Surgery which can include:

• Lumpectomy: This procedure aims to surgically remove the breast lumps.
• Mastectomy: This procedure aims to remove the affected breast.

Other treatment options include:

• Radiation: This treatment option uses radioactive materials to fight cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy/ Targeted therapy/ Immunotherapy: This treatment option uses drugs to destroy the cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy: This treatment uses anti hormone tablets to treat specific receptors on the breast cell.

In most cases, breast lumps turn out to be benign, which suggests that you may not need any medical treatment. More often, benign breast lumps resolve on their own. If you develop breast lumps due to an injury, the doctor may recommend you let your breasts heal on their own.

If you notice any changes in your breasts and the area around them, consult our expert, Dr. Nita S. Nair, Lead Consultant Breast Surgery, Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai. Call 022 6280 6280.