About Breast Lump Treatment

Overview

Breast lumps are defined as a bump, bulge, knot or localized swelling in the breast. They can be caused by hormonal changes, infections, traumatic injuries and breast cancer. Treatment plans for breast lumps are developed based on a woman's age and medical history, the cause of the lump and the accepted treatment for specific types of lumps. Learning about breast lump treatment can help women with lumps understand what will happen after a lump is diagnosed.

Oral Contraceptives

Some breast lumps are not tumors, but fluid-filled sacs known as cysts. If a fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy shows that a cyst is benign, it may be treated with a course of oral contraceptives. This is because cyclic hormonal changes can be responsible for the development of breast lumps. The hormones in birth control pills can regulate hormonal changes and make a breast cyst shrink or go away completely.

Diet Modification

Breast lumps can be caused by fibrocystic breast disease, which is a condition characterized by noncancerous changes in breast tissue. This condition is also called benign breast disease, diffuse cystic mastopathy and mammary dysplasia. Women with fibrocystic breast disease are instructed to avoid caffeine and limit fat intake. According to the National Institutes of Health, fat intake should be limited to 25 percent of total calorie intake each day.

Antibiotics

Mastitis is a breast infection that can cause pain and swelling of the breast tissue. Swollen tissue may present as a lumpy area of the breast. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition is treated with antibiotics that are taken for 10 to 14 days. Even if a woman's symptoms clear up within a day or two, the entire course of antibiotics should be taken to minimize the chance that the infection will come back. Women with mastitis may also be advised to drink extra fluids and get plenty of rest.

Radiation Therapy

If a breast lump is found to be cancerous, radiation therapy may be given to kill cancer cells. Also known as X-ray therapy, radiotherapy or irradiation, radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to shrink tumors. During therapy, the X-rays are directed at target tissue so that the genetic material in the cells of the tissue can be damaged. This makes it impossible for malignant cells to divide and grow. This treatment may be used along with chemotherapy or a lumpectomy to completely eliminate a tumor or shrink it so that it stops growing.

Chemotherapy

Cancerous breast lumps may be treated with chemotherapy, which is a course of drugs that kills cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be given orally or intravenously. Intravenous chemotherapy is the most common form of this treatment, with drugs being delivered into the veins via a small needle and catheter. Chemotherapy can cause side effects that include fatigue, easy bruising, easy bleeding, dry mouth, hair loss, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. The type of chemotherapy drugs used will depend on the severity of cancer and a patient's health.

Lumpectomy

Lumpectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a cancerous lump and surrounding healthy breast tissue. During a lumpectomy, small surgical incisions are made in the breast so that tissue can be removed. Lymph nodes located in the armpit may also be removed. The tissue removed during a lumpectomy is sent to a laboratory so that it can be analyzed. This analysis can aid doctors in developing treatment plans and informing patients about their health.