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Breast lumps
By Mayo Clinic staffMayo Clinic Health Manager
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Definition
A breast lump is a growth of tissue that develops within your breast. A breast lump is often interchangeably described as a mass, swelling, thickness or fullness.
A breast lump can feel distinct and have definite borders, or it could feel more like a general area of thickened tissue in your breast. You may notice other breast changes accompanying a breast lump, such as skin redness, distension, dimpling or pitting; breast asymmetry; breast pain; nipple inversion; or unusual nipple discharge.
Sometimes, a breast lump is a sign of breast cancer. That's why your doctor should promptly evaluate any breast lump you find. Fortunately, most breast lumps result from noncancerous (benign) conditions.
Causes
Breast lump causes:
- Breast cancer
- Breast cysts
- Fibroadenoma
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Hamartoma
- Injury or trauma to the breast
- Intraductal papilloma
- Lipoma
- Mastitis
- Milk cyst (galactocele)
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor for breast lump evaluation without delay if:
- The breast lump is new or unusual and feels different from surrounding tissue in that breast or tissue in your other breast.
- The breast lump doesn't go away after your next menstrual period.
- You notice the breast lump has changed — getting bigger, firmer or more defined from the 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.
