The first thing that most likely comes to the mind of any woman who notices a lump in her breast is breast cancer. This isn’t surprising as Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths amongst women worldwide. However, not every lump or bump found in the breast is cancer as there are other causes of breast lumps which are way less dangerous.
Some of these other causes of breast lumps include infections, injuries and non-cancerous growths.
To begin, it is very important to be familiar with how your breasts normally feel. This makes it easier to detect when there’s a change in your breasts. Breasts contain tissues of varying consistency. The glandular tissue in the upper, outer part of the breast usually feels slightly rope-like, bumpy or lumpy (nodular).The surrounding fat tissue, often felt in the inner and lower parts of the breast, is soft and less nodular or lumpy than the upper, outer breast.
It is also important to observe breast-related symptoms, such as tenderness or lumpiness, to see if they change with your menstrual cycle. Breast tissue also changes with age, typically becoming more fatty and less dense.
Injuries that cause breast lumps
If a breast is injured by trauma, e.g if one gets a hard blow to the breast or has a fall and lands on the chest, small blood vessels may burst and cause an area of localized bleeding that can be felt as a lump. Trauma to the breast can damage the fat cells in the breast tissue, a condition called fat necrosis. The injury can also form a lump in the breast. These types of lumps that follow a significant trauma are not cancerous.
Infections that cause breast lumps
Inflammation of the breast tissue is known as mastitis. Mastitis commonly occurs in breastfeeding mothers. When the skin of the nipple (areola) is injured or cracked, bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections. In a breastfeeding woman, a hard area commonly thought of as a “clogged milk duct” can form. Sometimes, certain treatments can prevent the painful, hard area from developing into an actual breast infection. Infections can either be a deep pocket of pus, in which the infection looks like it is growing down into the breast (an abscess), or a wider area of skin redness that spreads out (cellulitis). Also nipple piercing increases the risk of breast infections that may be particularly difficult to treat.
Non-cancerous growths that cause breast lumps
These include:
- Fibroadenomas which are very common. These growths most commonly occur in women 30 to 35 years old, but can also occur in women under 30 years of age. Fibroadenomas are solid, firm tumors that are usually painless or only slightly tender. They sometimes grow quickly in teenagers or during pregnancy.
- Breast cysts are tiny, fluid-filled sacs within the breast tissue. They are very common, especially over the age of 35. These cysts often vary in size during the menstrual cycle and may be tender.
- Fibrocystic changes are characterized by breasts that are lumpy with many irregularities in the breast that feel almost grainy. Fibrocystic breasts seem to occur because a woman’s breasts are extra sensitive to fluctuating hormone levels. Women with fibrocystic changes may have pain and/or lumps.
Although it has been established that not every breast lump is cancerous, any changes in the breast should be reported to a medical doctor for further evaluation.
In evaluation of a breast lump, the first step is a clinical breast exam. During this exam, your doctor will likely:
- Ask about symptoms and your risk factors for breast cancer or benign breast conditions
- Examine your breasts, noting their shape and size and comparing both breasts while you’re standing and while you’re lying down
- Examine the skin on your breasts
- Check for nipple problems, such as inversion or discharge
- Feel the deeper tissue in your breasts and armpits to detect lumps or areas of thickening
If a breast lump or other area of concern, is confirmed by your doctor then you’ll likely need further investigations. .
