What are Breast Lumps?
A lump that can be felt in the breast tissue is referred to as a breast lump. Although, women are associated with breasts; breast tissue is present in males as well. Men too can have breast lumps being formed.
Most breast lumps are benign (noncancerous), with no long-term harm to the inflicted person's health. They could be due to hormonal changes, and in some cases may disappear naturally without medical intervention.
However, it is advised to seek medical advice and evaluation at the outset to rule out the possibility of the lump being cancerous.
Infants too are susceptible to the formation of breast lumps due to the excess estrogen they receive from their mothers. The lump gradually subsides on its own, once the hormone level reduces.
Pre-pubertal ages, girls may develop breast lumps that could be tender. These go away at the onset of puberty. Boys in this age too may develop breast lumps which disappear at the onset of puberty, within a few months.
Breast lumps can occur at any age subject to a variety of factors.
Causes of Breast Lumps
- Breast cysts: Fluid-filled, soft sacs.
- Milk cysts: Common during breast-feeding. Formed on account of milk-filled sacs.
- Intraductal papilloma: Small, non-cancerous tumour in a milk duct.
- Fibroadenoma: Non-cancerous lumps that feel rubbery and move easily within the breast tissue. These rarely become cancerous.
- Hamartoma: Tumor-like benign growth.
- Lipoma: A non-cancerous, slow-growing lump of fatty tissue.
- Fibrocystic breasts: The breast tissue is lumpy to feel and may be accompanied by pain.
- Injury to the breast.
- Mastitis: Infection in the breast.
- Breast cancer.
Symptoms of Breast Lumps
Symptoms that should be considered for evaluation by a doctor:
- If there is a lump in the breast.
- If the lump does not disappear after menstruation.
- If the lump grows in size.
- If an area on the breast looks different than the rest.
- If an area on the breast has an injury without a specific reason.
- If the breast skin reddens or appears like the skin of an orange.
- If the nipple inverts (unless it was inverted, to begin with).
- If there is a bloody secretion from the nipple.
