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    Breast Care

    • Overview
    • Breast lumps
    • Breast self-exams
    • Breast cancer
    • Breast cancer prevention
    • Breastfeeding and mastitis

    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.

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