If a person has breast cancer, they may notice other symptoms, such as other lumps near the armpit or discharge from the nipple. A person should always speak with a doctor if they find a lump in their breast, no matter how small the lump is. If the lump is cancerous and grows bigger, the cancer cells could break off and spread to other areas of the body. Non-cancerous lumps are benign and include cysts and fibroadenomas.
Fibroadenomas feel solid and move when a person pokes them. Knowing the early signs of breast cancer can help a person seek prompt treatment and improve their chance of survival. In this article, learn about…. A lump in the breast can be a sign of breast cancer, but other changes in the breast can also signify this condition.
Other potential warning signs…. There are many different types of breast cancer. Learn more about the different types, including their symptoms, treatment options, and outlooks, here.
Doctors use tumor size to help determine the stage of breast cancer. People with early-stage cancers are likely to have smaller tumors that are easier….
While rare, breast cancer can affect males as well as females. Learn more about the risk factors, symptoms, and treatments for male breast cancer here. What types of breast lumps indicate cancer? Are lumps normal? Cancerous lumps Size of lumps Benign lumps Vs. Are breast lumps normal? What does a cancerous breast lump feel like? How big are breast cancer lumps? What are benign lumps? Compared to a cyst. Compared to fibroadenomas. Breast lump while nursing. How to perform a self-exam.
Contacting a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. The early warning signs of breast cancer. Following recommended breast cancer screening guidelines is the most important thing you can do to ensure early detection of breast cancer. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the sooner treatment can begin, and the better your outlook will be.
Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or gynecologist. Your doctor will likely conduct a full breast exam and may also check nearby spots, including your collarbone, neck, and armpit areas. Based on what they feel, your doctor may order additional testing, such as a mammogram, ultrasound, or biopsy. Your doctor may also suggest a period of watchful waiting. During this time, you and your doctor will continue to monitor the lump for any changes or growth. Be honest with your doctor about your concerns.
If your personal or family history puts you at a higher risk of having breast cancer, you may want to move forward with the appropriate diagnostic testing so you can know for sure if your breast lump is cancer or something else. Certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing breast cancer.
Most breast cancers are diagnosed in women. However, men do have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. Still, less than one percent of all breast cancers occur in men. Symptoms of breast cancer in men are the same as the symptoms of breast cancer in women. These symptoms include:. As with women, breast cancer in men can spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. Diagnosing the cancer in early stages important. This way, you and your doctor can quickly begin treating the cancer.
While breast cancer is rare in men, some common risk factors are known. Read a list of these risk factors for male breast cancer, and find out how you can reduce your risk. Screening techniques help you and your doctor identify suspicious spots in your breast. A mammogram is a common screening option. A breast self-exam is another. The self-exam was considered an important part of early breast cancer detection for many decades.
Today, however, it may lead to too many unnecessary biopsies and surgical procedures. Still, your doctor may recommend a self-exam to you. Knowing what your breasts should feel like could help you spot a potential problem more easily.
If you do not have a period, pick a date on the calendar you can easily remember, such as the first or fifteenth, and schedule your self-exam.
Remove your top and bra. Stand in front of a mirror. Observe how your breasts look, inspecting them for changes in symmetry, shape, size, or color. Use the soft pads of your fingers to feel for lumps, cysts, or other abnormalities. To keep the inspection uniform, start at your nipple and work your way out, to your breastbone and armpit, in a spiral pattern.
Repeat on the other side. Gently squeeze on each nipple to see if you have any discharge. Do one final inspection in the shower. Let warm water and soap make the manual examination easier by gliding your fingers over your breasts. A biopsy is the only way to distinguish between cancer and a noncancerous condition.
The distinct characteristics of each tumor type are more definitively seen on a biopsy. There are a number of different methods for doing a breast biopsy, including a core needle biopsy or open biopsy, and the best option will depend on the characteristics of the tumor.
Finally, it's important to be aware that a breast biopsy usually takes cells from a small portion of a lump, which leaves the possibility of a false negative result a normal biopsy despite breast cancer being present.
On rare occasions, metastases from cancers in other regions of the body , such as colon cancer or lung cancer, may give rise to a new breast lump. A biopsy will distinguish primary breast cancer from metastasis that originated elsewhere in the body. The treatment for breast cancer depends on the stage at diagnosis and is also often targeted to the specific tumor.
In addition to surgery, treatments may include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies. On average, the doubling time for a breast cancer tumor, or time for a tumor to double in size, is approximately 50 to days.
The growth rate of a breast tumor varies based on the type of breast cancer, tumor characteristics, the age of the patient at diagnosis, and menopausal status. Inflammatory breast cancer tumors and triple negative breast cancer tumors tend to grow faster than estrogen receptor positive and HER2 negative tumors.
Breast cancer in women of childbearing age is not common, and lumps found while breastfeeding are likely to be benign. Breast changes while nursing are normal and may include a clogged milk duct or mastitis. However, it is important to report any new lump to your healthcare provider to make sure it is benign and get treatment to help alleviate any discomfort.
Mammograms have a black background with white and gray coloring to show breast tissue. Cancerous tumors typically show as a very defined, bright white spot, though dense breast tissue can make them harder to see. A cancerous breast lump will usually be hard and immobile when you push on it.
It may also be irregularly shaped. A non-cancerous breast lump may be smoother and spongy, and will move when pushed. Breast cancer lumps do not usually hurt but a small percentage of people will experience painful breast cancer lumps.
Breast lumps are very common. It is important that you regularly check your own breasts for breast lumps. If you notice a lump, there is no need to panic, but it is also important that you do not ignore or postpone getting care and treatment either.
Be sure to seek medical attention if you notice a breast lump—call your healthcare provider within a few days so that you can be given a prompt appointment for imaging or an office visit. Even benign growths generally need to be removed, treated, or carefully observed, so you will need medical attention whether you have breast cancer or not. Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox.
American Cancer Society. What Is Breast Cancer? Fibrosis and Simple Cysts in the Breast. Fibroadenomas of the Breast. Adenosis of the Breast. Inflammatory Breast Cancer.
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