Breast Lump

A breast lump is a mass or an area of thickened tissue within the breast that feels different from the surrounding tissue. Lumps can vary widely in how they feel, ranging from soft and movable to firm and fixed, and they may be tender or painless. It is reassuring to know that most breast lumps are not cancer, particularly in younger women, and that many are caused by harmless conditions. Nonetheless, because a lump can sometimes be the first sign of breast cancer, any new lump deserves to be checked by a healthcare professional rather than watched at home.

Breast lumps have many possible causes, most of which are benign. Common causes include:

• Cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs that are very common and may change in size and tenderness during the menstrual cycle.
• Fibroadenomas, which are smooth, firm, non-cancerous growths that occur most often in younger women.
• General lumpiness or rope-like thickening, sometimes called fibrocystic change, which is a normal variation that often becomes more noticeable before a period.
• An area of fatty tissue change following injury, a collection of infection known as an abscess, or a soft fatty lump called a lipoma.
• Breast cancer, which becomes more likely with age, with a personal or family history of breast cancer, and with certain inherited gene mutations.

Because the cause cannot be reliably determined by feel alone, evaluation is important regardless of a person's risk profile.

Any new breast lump should be evaluated, and there are particular features that make prompt assessment especially important. These include a lump that is hard, has an irregular shape, or feels fixed to the surrounding tissue, as well as a lump that persists after a menstrual period, grows over time, or is accompanied by other changes. Warning signs that warrant timely medical attention include dimpling or puckering of the skin over the lump, a nipple that has newly turned inward, bloody or clear discharge from the nipple, or a new lump in the armpit. Seeking care does not mean a lump is cancer — most are not — but a professional evaluation provides either reassurance or an early diagnosis, both of which are valuable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are most breast lumps cancer?

• No. The majority of breast lumps are benign, particularly in younger women. Even so, any new lump should be checked so its cause can be confirmed.

My lump is painful — does that mean it is not cancer?

• Not reliably. While many painful lumps are benign, pain alone cannot rule cancer in or out, so a painful lump should still be evaluated.

Can I wait to see if a lump goes away on its own?

• A lump that comes and goes with your menstrual cycle may be monitored on a doctor's advice, but a new lump that persists, grows, or feels firm and fixed should be checked promptly rather than watched at home.

I am young — could a lump still be cancer?

• Breast cancer is less common at a young age but not impossible. The reassurance is that most lumps in younger women are benign; the key is to have any new lump assessed rather than assuming it is harmless.