Detecting breast cancer early improves the patient's chances of recovering and surviving. Women who examine their own breasts on a regular basis may be able to detect a breast lump at an early stage by comparing changes to the normal feel of their breast tissue, says MayoClinic.com. Suspicious lumps require examination by a health care provider, as well as a biopsy or other diagnostic tests, as it is not possible to rule out breast cancer otherwise.
Breast Tissue Changes
Regular breast self-examinations help women become familiar with the feel of their own breast tissue so they can identify changes if they appear. Breast tissue normally feels soft in the lower and outer positions of the breast, while the upper portion feels firm, bumpy or lumpy, according to MayoClinic.com. Breast tissue may feel different during a woman's menstrual period, and becomes less dense as she ages. New lumps that do not go away after a menstrual period, as well as changes since the previous examination, should be examined by a health care provider. Lumps appear in various forms and sizes. A fibroadenoma, a benign growth, feels rubbery and moves easily, according to MedlinePlus. Cysts, fluid-filled sacs in the breast, feel like soft grapes. A lipoma is a collection of fatty tissue, and an intraductal papilloma is a small, often undetectable, mass in a milk duct near the nipple.
Discomfort
Pain or tenderness in the breast may be caused by mastitis, an infection of the breast; benign cysts; injury; or fibrocystic disease, according to MedlinePlus. Malignant masses, on the other hand, normally do not cause discomfort.
Appearance
As part of her regular breast self-examination, a woman should stand in front of a mirror to observe the appearance of her breasts. Redness, dimpling, puckering or crusting of the skin may indicate the presence of a lump, according to MayoClinic.com. Bruising after an injury to the breast usually resolves on its own, although a health care provider may need to withdraw collected blood with a needle, according to MedlinePlus. A change in the size of one breast may also be significant.
Nipple Changes
Bloody or pink discharge from the nipple may indicate a problem in the breast, according to MayoClinic.com. A nipple that becomes inverted should also be examined by a health care provider. Causes may include an intraductal papilloma or breast cancer, according to MedlinePlus.
