Breast Lumps

Breast lumps

Women at all ages may approach a gynecologist with a lump (swelling) in one or both breasts. The lumps may be associated with symptoms such as pain, discharge from nipple, and swelling in axilla. Most women will have the fear of cancer when they feel a lump, but most lumps are not cancer.

Some of the common causes of breast lumps are:

Fibro adenomas
They are not cancerous. They are rubbery; they slip under the fingers easily during palpation. They occur commonly in 15-45 years of age. They are easily detected on sonography and mammography. Treatment is surgical removal when required.
Fibrocystic changes in breast
Very painful lumps often associated with periods. Symptoms are worst before a period and resolve after the period. There is no clear treatment for this condition. One can do hot or cold fomentation and take painkillers for relief.
Lipoma
It is a collection of fatty tissue, occasionally, painful. Surgical removal is the treatment.

Milk cyst and abscess
These are glands where the duct is blocked and therefore the glands swells with milk. It may get infected and cause mastitis. It could then turn into abscess. These typically occur during lactation. The breast may become red/hot/tender and there may be fever. Diagnosis is clinical and be on sonography. Treatment is anti inflammatory, antibiotics, emptying the breast of the milk, and incision and drainage in case of abscess.
Breast injury
In case of a blunt injury to the breast, there may be blood collection which will feel like a lump. These lumps can resolve on their own. Till then, hot/cold fomentation and analgesics/anti inflammatory will help.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer may present with a lump. It may be incidentally discovered on a screening mammography or while a routine self examination. The lump may be irregular hard painful, and associated with puckering of the skin, retraction of the nipple discharge from the nipple, alteration in size of breast and lumps in the armpit. Sonography, mammography and biopsy are commonly used for diagnosis. Surgical excision/ chemo and radiotherapy are used for treatment.