A breast lump is an area within the breast that feels different to the touch compared to the surrounding breast tissue. Many women have naturally “lumpy” breasts, however any new, discrete lump should be evaluated further. A breast lump can feel like a ball, cord, swelling, thickness, or fullness. It can feel smooth or irregular, soft or firm, moveable or fixed, and can be any shape.
Rest assured that most breast lumps detected by a woman on her self-exam are non-cancerous. Nevertheless, any new, persistent, or growing lump should be examined because it can be a symptom of a variety of conditions. Make an appointment with your physician.
Breast lumps may be caused by a variety of conditions. Some examples are:
Post-surgical changes, such as fat necrosis or scars
Localized areas of dense or fatty breast tissue
Hematoma (internal bruising)
The cause of a breast lump often cannot be definitively determined on self- or clinical exam, and therefore directed breast imaging evaluation is often required.