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...
The National Cancer Institute describes how the breasts are composed of three types of tissue: fatty, glandular and connective. Both connective and glandular tissue are quite dense and appear white on a mammogram. Fatty tissue is much less dense...
There are many types breast lumps that can affect males and females of any age. MedlinePlus, an online medical encyclopedia sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, reports that even babies can get breast lumps due to the estrogen they...
The breasts undergo regulated cycles of growth and development before birth, during puberty and throughout pregnancy, which are controlled in part by circulating hormone levels within the body. The breasts contain milk-producing lobules, which are...
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...
The male breast is composed of a mixture of tissue types, any of which may give rise to a mass or swelling. Cancerous breast tumors in men are rare, but do occur. Men can also develop benign, or non-cancerous breast disorders, causing breast...
Monthly breast self-examinations are important for women age 20 or older, because breast cancer caught earlier is easier to treat, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Breast examinations should be done monthly a few days after...
The breasts are made up of glandular tissue organized into lobules and ducts, surrounded by fat, lymph nodes, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. Each breast is surrounded by a large number of lymph nodes, including a number of lymph nodes in the...
While it is important that you pay attention to breast lumps, you don't have to panic if you find one. Most breast lumps are not cancerous. In fact, the Federal Citizen Information Center estimates that even 80 percent of the breast lumps that...
Every woman fears finding a lump in her breast, but in most cases breast lumps turn out to be harmless. Some lumps are first found during self-examination, while others get noticed during a visit to the doctor.
Breast lumps are growths of tissue that develop in a woman's breast. A breast lump may also be described as a mass, swelling and thickness or fullness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes breast lumps signal cancer, though most are...
Breast lump evaluation is important because of the potential for cancer; however, most masses felt in the breast are noncancerous. It is noteworthy that the older the patient, the higher the malignant potential. Consult a doctor if you find any...
The breasts are made up of extensive glandular tissue that facilitates lactation after pregnancy. The glandular tissue contains lobules--bulb-like structures made up of cells that secrete milk; as well as ducts--that carry milk from the lobules...
Many women are affected by benign, or non-cancerous, breast cysts. There are many factors that can contribute to this problem, including age, hormones and certain dietary factors, such as caffeine use. Women should be aware of the symptoms of...
Breast lumps can occur for a number of reasons. Breast lumps are frequently due to hormonal changes, although some lumps can be a symptom of a more serious disorder, such as breast cancer. Vitamin E is an alternative treatment for reducing the...
Every woman fears discovering a lump in her breast. All breast lumps, both in women and in men, could be cancerous and must be promptly evaluated by a physician. The diagnostic process takes time, however, and the uncertainty can be terrifying.
What is a breast lump? It's a growth of tissue in the breast or a swelling in the breast. Breast lumps can occur in all ages and stages of women. It can feel like a hardening of tissue, a knot, ball or bump in the breast. Routine self-examination...
The online medical encyclopedia MedlinePlus reports that many things can cause breast lumps, most of which prove non-cancerous. Breast lumps can appear at any age, and do so for a variety of different reasons. For example, infants may develop a...
Breast lumps are common and frightening to discover, but around 80 percent of all evaluated lumps are benign, states the McKinley Health Center of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Breast tissue often changes during the menstrual cycle...
Breast growth begins during embryonic development, and cycles of female breast growth continue throughout puberty, during pregnancy, and over the course of each menstrual cycle. In some cases, breast growth can lead to the development of breast...
In 2006, 213,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed, according to The Merck Manuals, an online medical library. This website also reports that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Doctors use information from...
Breast cysts are noncancerous lumps in the breast caused by fibrocystic breast changes, fibroadenomas and, less commonly, fluid-filled sacs. Fibrocystic breast changes include painful breast lumps that come and go in accordance with your menstrual...
Next time you think about grabbing a soda from the vending machine, you might want to hold off. Caffeine may contribute to breast lumps, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and MedlinePlus. Certain types of breast lumps may be caused or...
Changes in a woman's breasts due to various reasons like hormonal fluctuations and injuries to the tissue prove common, and lumps do not always signify cancer. Though it can be scary to feel a lump in the breast during breast self-exam or...
The breasts contain a number of specialized cell types that work together to allow lactation. The glandular tissue of the breast is made up of lobules and ducts, which produce milk and carry that milk to the nipple. Surrounding the glandular...
Primrose oil has long been used as food and medicine, usually for upset stomach and respiratory infections, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. In fact, prescription forms of primrose oil in the United Kingdom have recently been removed from...
Breast cancer develops from abnormal and dysregulated growth of cells in the breast, which occurs due to the accumulation of genetic mutations within a small population of cells. These cells become immortal and divide indefinitely, giving rise to...
Each breast contains a number of cell and tissue types that support the structure and function of the breast. The glandular tissue of the breast, which produces and secretes milk, consists of ducts and lobules. Surrounding the glandular tissue are...
Male breast cancer can be identified by a small lump under the nipple. Learn about the symptoms and treatment for male breast center in this video.