A Guide to Breast Lumps and When to Call the Doctor

Finding a lump in your breast tissue is a cause for alarm because it is impossible to know if the lump is benign or not without a proper medical test. The good news is that most lumps are not breast cancer, but benign breast tissue anomalies. That said, checking for breast lumps is one of the best ways to keep breast cancer at bay because they can be an indicator that you need to be checked out by a doctor, which could help catch cancer early and help put you on a plan so you can start treatment as soon as possible. This article is meant to help you understand what breast lumps are, how to check for them, what to do if you have one, and when to set a doctor’s appointment.

What are Breast Lumps?

Breast lumps are localized swelling, bulges, bumps, and protrusions in the breast tissue. The affected tissues will often feel different from the surrounding tissue, either in the immediate area or on other areas of the breast. Contrary to popular belief, breast lumps can develop in men and women, which means both men and women should learn how to detect breast lumps. If detected, they should be checked out as soon as possible.

How to Check for Breast Lumps

All women should be familiar with how their breasts look and feel to recognize any changes or lumps. This familiarity is what makes breast self-exam possible. While standing in front of a mirror, put your hands on your hips, keep your shoulders straight and level to the floor, and check for changes. You should be checking for any breast size, color, and shape changes. If there is any bulging, changes in your nipple’s position, redness, swelling, or soreness, you should get checked out by a doctor. The next step is raising your arms above your head and looking for the same changes as above.

The next step is examining the breast while lying down. For this step, lie down and use your left hand to examine the right breast and vice versa. Use the pads of your fingers and go in slow, circular motions, making sure that you cover the whole breast.

Finally, examine the breasts while standing or sitting. Here, you want to feel the breast using the pads of your fingers and using the circular motion as above. Many women report that this can be easier to do when the skin is wet, so you could try this step in the shower.

What Do Breast Lumps Feel Like?

Most breast lumps feel very similar, whether tumors, benign anomalies or lumps caused by fatty tissues, or other causes. They often feel firmer than the spongy breast tissue that surrounds them. The lumps can have a regular or irregular shape depending on whether they are cysts, tumors, or lumps due to other causes.

It is essential to know the difference between a cyst vs. tumor when examining the breasts. While everyone is different, meaning cysts and tumors can vary from person to person, there are some things you can look for to tell if a lump is a cyst or tumor. Tumors are fast-growing, are usually firm to the touch, and can grow large enough that they start pushing on surrounding tissue.

Cysts are sac-like pockets filled with viscous substances or fluids, while tumors are masses of abnormal cells. Cysts grow slowly, cause redness and swelling, can cause discharges, are tender to the touch, and move around under the skin.

To better understand the difference between a cyst vs. tumor, have a look at the detailed guide provided by Ezra. You will find information on where cysts and tumors develop, additional information about their differences, as well as what to do if you feel one during an examination. Ezra provides full-body MRI screening that checks for lumps in the breast and tumors and cysts in other parts of the body. They also have clinicians standing by to discuss your screening results and discuss the next steps forward.

When to Call a Doctor

Lumps will feel different from other tissues in the breast, so the best time to call a doctor is if you find a new lump or if the lumps in your breasts feel different. Breasts are naturally lumpy, and this lumpiness varies among different women. This means you might find lumps that are entirely normal and that have been there for some time. This is just how the breasts have formed. Frequent breast self-exams should help you know how these lumps feel so you know if a new one has developed.

You should also call a doctor if one of your breasts starts feeling different from the other breast. This could be due to a lump, pain, or tenderness. Although this might not indicate a larger underlying problem, it is still important to get it checked out.

Note that lumps are often tied to the menstrual cycle in younger women and go away at the end of the cycle. While these lumps should not concern you too much, you should see a doctor if the lumps persist after your menstrual cycle is over.

Although nipple discharge is a normal reaction to the nipples being squeezed, leaking can signify a serious underlying issue. Signs of serious issues such as breast cancer include nipple discharge without the nipple being squeezed, discharge that only occurs in one nipple, and clear or bloody discharge. Do note that pregnant women and women who are still breastfeeding might have a milky discharge, which is nothing to worry about unless the color changes.

What to Do When You Find a Lump

The best thing you can do if you find a lump in your breast is not panic. You likely have a cyst or a benign tumor that will not develop into cancer. However, you should get in touch with a doctor to set a date for a proper exam.

If you go in, the doctor or a nurse will go for a complete breast examination to see if further tests are required. You will be asked to schedule an MRI or a mammogram if they are. A mammogram is usually only required if the doctor suspects that the lump in your breast could be breast cancer.

If the doctor finds a cyst, they will recommend that it be either removed or drained. The process is typically painless, but you can opt for draining if you do not want the whole procedure done. Note that a drained cyst can fill up over time, so removal is often the best solution.

If the doctor finds a tumor, they will refer you to a breast specialist to discuss the results with you. They will then recommend additional tests to confirm if the tumor is benign or is cancerous.

Breast cancer is a very serious illness, and everyone should take measures to catch it as early as possible. Checking for breast lumps is one of the best ways to do so, and all men and women should learn how to examine their breast tissues for lumps. If you find lumps or any changes to the breast and breast tissue, you should set an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

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