Benign Breast Lumps

Benign Breast Lumps

There are four types of breast lumps; only the fourth is a malignant, or cancerous, lump.

CYSTS: Fluid-filled sacs of various sizes.
Usually they feel soft and may be moved under the skin. Sometimes cysts produce a dull pain in the area. Cysts appear most often in women between 30 to 55. They rarely occur in young women or women past menopause.

FIBROADENOMAS: Non-cancerous tumors composed of connective tissue and other cells that have multiplied faster than normal. They usually have regular borders, feel round, move freely and feel firm. They are usually about the size of marbles or smaller. Fibroadenomas are often more common in young women .

PSEUDOLUMPS: These are all the other masses in the breast that the doctor or health-care provider will want to evaluate. These could be scar tissue, hardened silicone, necrotic (dead) fat, or a rib bone pressing into breast tissue and compressing it. This kind of lump can feel quite hard and usually doesn’t change size or shape during your menstrual cycle.

A lump in the breast is often the first symptom a woman finds if she has breast cancer. Noncancerous lumps are the result of normal hormonal changes or trauma to the breast. A younger woman is more likely to find that her breast lump is benign. If a lump is cancerous, it is usually hard to move under the skin. However, this is not a proper way to distinguish a benign lump from a malignant lump.
Take notice of any changes in the breasts, such as lumps, thickening, clear or bloody discharge, change in contours, dimpling of skin, redness or retracted nipples. If any of these are present, immediately consult a physician or gynecologist.

Ultrasound:
An ultrasound is used to determine if a lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst. It uses sound waves to create a picture of body tissues and fluids.

A Mammogram:
An x-ray of the breast. A doctor (radiologist) will read the mammogram and look for any abnormalities. If the doctor detects any abnormality or change in the mammogram, additional testing may be necessary. A mammogram can detect many, but not all, cases of breast cancer. Sometimes additional tests may be needed, such as a breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).