Breast lumps

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When to see a doctor

By Mayo Clinic staff

Make an appointment with your doctor 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 (inverted), although it isn't normally positioned that way
References
  1. Non-cancerous breast conditions. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003180-pdf.pdf. Accessed Sept. 20, 2012.
  2. Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4377-0986-5..C2009-0-38984-9--TOP&isbn=978-1-4377-0986-5&about=true&uniqId=236797353-5. Accessed Sept. 20, 2012.
  3. Lentz GM, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-06986-1&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-06986-1..C2009-0-48752-X--TOP. Accessed Sept. 20, 2012.
  4. Sabel MS. Breast masses and other common breast problems. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Sept. 20, 2012.
MY00165 Oct. 30, 2012

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