Breast Lump Treatment
Breast Lump Treatment
Most breast lumps are noncancerous, which means they are benign. You might be surprised to find a breast lump, but it’s important to remember that it may not affect your long-term health.
However, a breast lump can be a sign of cancer. It’s wise to always seek a medical evaluation of any lumps or swelling you discover on your breasts.
Causes of Breast Lumps
There are many possible causes for a lump in your breast, including:
- breast cysts, which are soft, fluid-filled sacs
- milk cysts, referring to sacs filled with milk
that can occur during breast-feeding - fibrocystic breasts, a condition in which breast
tissue feels lumpy in texture and is sometimes accompanied by pain - fibroadenoma, meaning noncancerous rubbery lumps
that move easily within the breast tissue and rarely become cancerous - hamartoma, which is a benign, tumorlike growth
- intraductal papilloma, referring to a small,
non-cancerous tumor in a milk duct - lipoma, which is a slow-growing, noncancerous,
fatty lump - mastitis, or an infection of the breast
- injury
- breast cancer
Signs You Should See a Doctor
Remember, most breast lumps are noncancerous. However, you should make an appointment to see your doctor if:
- you discover a new lump
- an area of your breast is noticeably different
than the rest - a lump does not go away after menstruation
- a lump changes or grows larger
- your breast is bruised for no apparent reason
- the skin of your breast is red or begins to
pucker like an orange peel - you have an inverted nipple (if it was not
always inverted) - you notice bloody discharge from the nipple