Breast lumps

A breast lump can be described as a mass, growth, swelling, thickness or fullness. A breast lump can vary in the way it looks and feels. If you have a breast lump, you may notice:

• A distinct lump with definite borders.
• A thickened, slightly more prominent area in your breast that's different from surrounding breast tissue.
• Other breast changes, such as redness, dimpling or pitting of the skin.
• One breast that's noticeably larger than the other.
• Nipple changes, such as a nipple that's pulled inward, also called nipple inversion, or spontaneous fluid discharge from your nipple.
• Breast pain or tenderness.

Sometimes, a breast lump is a sign of breast cancer. That's why you should seek prompt medical evaluation. Fortunately, however, most breast lumps result from noncancerous, or benign, conditions.

A breast lump can develop as a result of conditions, such as:

• Breast cancer
• Breast cysts
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Hamartoma, a noncancerous tumor in the breast
• Injury or trauma to the breast

Make an appointment with your health care provider to have a breast lump evaluated, especially if:

• The breast lump is new or unusual, and feels different from surrounding tissue or from tissue in your other breast.
• The breast lump doesn't go away or gets bigger after your next menstrual period.
• The breast lump changes — gets bigger, firmer or more defined from surrounding breast tissue.
• You have bloody, possibly spontaneous discharge from your nipple.
• You notice skin changes on your breast, such as redness, crusting, dimpling or puckering.
• Your nipple is turned inward, or inverted, although it isn't normally positioned that way.