Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in women, report health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This type of cancer occurs when abnormal, unregulated cells develop within breast tissue and surrounding regions, such as the armpit. Speak with your doctor immediately if you develop any of the symptoms of a cancerous lump in the breast.
Hard and Uneven
When cancerous cells begin to grow within the breast tissue, they can clump together and form a hard mass beneath the skin of your breast. If you have a cancerous lump within your breast, you can feel a solid piece of tissue in your breast that may be as small as a pea, explain health professionals at the National Cancer Institute. The area surrounding the hard mass of breast tissue may feel bumpy, rough or uneven to the touch. A cancerous lump that is not removed during the early stages of breast cancer can continue to grow and may become as large as a walnut or lime.
Soft and Rounded
Cancerous cells that develop within the breast tissue can alternatively form a soft mass of tissue beneath the skin. Breast cancer lumps vary in size, depending upon the extent of cancerous cell growth. If you have breast cancer, you may notice a soft or squishy lump in your breast tissue that feels rounded or smooth to the touch. You can also develop a number of lumps within your breast tissue, which may feel slightly different from each other. A cancerous lump in the breast requires evaluation (biopsy) by your primary care physician or oncologist to determine the most appropriate form of breast cancer treatment for your condition.
Painless
The breast cancer lump itself is typically painless, explains Dr. Andrea Markowitz in an Oct. 6, 2009, article in the Los Angeles Times. Additional breast cancer symptoms, such as breast inflammation or nipple changes, can cause sensations of pain or tenderness to develop in some women.
