Breast lumps Repe ū
Breast lumps have many different causes, and most breast lumps are not cancer. If you find a lump in your breast, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Breast tissues and normal breast changes
Your breasts are made up of different types of tissue, including:
- lobules, which contain milk-producing glands
- ducts for moving the milk to your nipple
- fatty tissue
- connective tissue
- blood vessels
- lymph vessels
- nerves.
Changes can happen in any of these and cause a lump in your breast.
Breast changes during your menstrual cycle
Your breasts can change with the normal hormonal changes of your menstrual cycle. At some time in your cycle you may have some breast:
- discomfort or pain
- tenderness
- lumpiness.
It is usually noticed in the days leading up to your period, then it gets better once your period starts.
Fibrocystic changes
For some women, the discomfort or pain and lumpiness can last over many days. The breasts feel generally lumpy and possibly heavy and swollen. This is called fibrocystic disease. It mostly happens in women aged between 30 and 50.
Fibrocystic disease is harmless but it sometimes causes worrying lumps. You should get these checked by your healthcare provider.
You should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you:
- find a lump in your breast
- notice any skin or nipple changes
- have a discharge from your nipples.
This might indicate a serious condition.
Causes of breast lumps
Most breast lumps are not cancer. Breast lumps have many different causes. The most common non-cancerous (benign) causes include:
- normal breast changes
- fibroadenoma (lumps of fibrous or glandular tissue)
- breast cysts (a harmless sac filled with fluid)
- fat necrosis (a lump that forms when fatty tissue is damaged)
- lipoma (a lump made of body fat).
Diagnosing breast lumps
To help decide whether a lump needs further investigation, your healthcare provider will ask you some questions about:
- how long the lump has been there
- if you have you had any pain in your breast
- if you have you had any discharge from your nipple
- when your last period was (if you still have periods)
- if have you been taking any hormone medication, such as the contraceptive pill or menopause hormone therapy
- if you have had breast lumps before
- if there is any history of breast disease in your family.
They will also check the lump by examining your breasts. You may need further tests, such as an ultrasound or mammogram.
Further tests will help show if the lump is breast cancer or non-cancerous. The result will help your healthcare provider decide if you need any further investigation or treatment.
Conditions causing breast lumps
If you find any lump in your breast, you must have it promptly checked by a healthcare professional. Some of the causes below are harmless (and some are not), so it is important to have all breast lumps properly diagnosed as soon as possible.
There is more information on breast lumps and breast cancer at the Breast Cancer Foundation website.
The most common cause of a non-cancerous (benign) breast lump is a fibroadenoma. These lumps are caused by an overgrowth of glands and connective tissue in your breast. They feel:
- round
- smooth
- rubbery (sometimes)
- mobile — they move around a lot
- painless — they are not usually tender.
They are most common in younger women (in their 20s) but can happen right up to menopause. Hormone levels affect fibroadenomas, so they can grow larger during pregnancy and smaller after menopause. Fibroadenomas often eventually disappear, especially after menopause.
You may need to have surgery to remove a large one or one that is causing discomfort. Fibroadenomas do not turn into cancer, so it is quite safe to leave them alone.
Fibroadenoma — Breast Cancer Nowexternal link
Cysts are another kind of lump that can form in your breasts. They are fluid-filled sacs and can feel like smooth round lumps. If you press them, they can move slightly, but they do not move as much as fibroadenomas.
Simple cysts are normally non-cancerous (benign). You can get them from your early 30s until after menopause. Most breast cysts go away without treatment, but larger cysts can be painful and may need to be drained.
Very rarely, some complex cysts need a tissue sample (biopsy) to be taken, as some can be cancerous.
Biopsy — Breast Cancer Foundationexternal link
Breast cysts — Breast Cancer Nowexternal link
Breast infections usually happen while you are breastfeeding because:
- your milk ducts get blocked, and milk cannot flow from that part of your breast
- bacteria (germs) can enter through your nipple.
An infection can cause mastitis, which makes your breast hot and tender with firm swelling.
Sometimes mastitis can develop into an abscess (a cavity containing pus), which feels like a lump in your breast. For an abscess, you may need surgery to open it and drain the pus. You will also get some antibiotics to take and advice on how to stop it happening again.
If your breast tissue is damaged due to an injury, the injured fatty tissue can create a lump (caused by fat necrosis). Injury can be from various things including a forceful impact or collision, breast surgery, breast biopsy or radiotherapy. A lump caused by fat necrosis is harmless but it may stay there for some time before it goes away.
If it does not go away and if it is causing a problem, you can have surgery to remove it. Fat necrosis is harmless and will not turn into breast cancer or increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
Fatty growths called lipomas can sometimes develop in your breast (and other parts of your body). A lipoma is a non-cancerous (benign) growth that does not usually cause any symptoms. It can be safely left without any treatment.
If you have a large lipoma that is causing problems, you can have surgery to remove it.
An intraductal papilloma is a wart-like growth in your ducts, often close to your nipple. It is sometimes called a ductal papilloma or papilloma of the breast.
It can feel like a small lump, but sometimes it just causes a blood-stained fluid discharge from your nipple.
A breast-screening mammogram will sometimes pick up an intraductal papilloma.
These growths can have abnormal cells in them and there is a small risk of them becoming cancerous. They are usually removed by a breast surgeon.
Intraductal papilloma — Breast Cancer Nowexternal link
Most breast lumps are not caused by breast cancer. But because breast cancer can cause a lump in your breasts, it is important to get your healthcare provider to check any new lump you find.
Men can get breast cancer too and should have any new lump checked as soon as possible.