Finding a lump in your breast can be frightening, but fortunately most breast lumps are benign, meaning they are not cancer.
Female breasts are complex structures including glandular tissue (milk production), connective or fibrous tissue and fatty tissue and it is relatively common to develop a lump, cyst or tumor in your breast. While the breast conditions listed below are not cancerous, they may increase your risk of developing breast cancer in the future. And the only way to know for sure whether your condition requires further testing is to contact your health provider. You should notify your healthcare provider about any change to your breast tissue for evaluation.
Breast Cysts
Up to 25% of breast lumps are fluid -filled, noncancerous cysts. A breast cyst often feels like a grape or water-filled balloon but can sometimes feel firm. Often causing tenderness, these cysts can be drained, but often go away without treatment
Fibroadenomas
These are the most common noncancerous solid breast tumor found in women most often diagnosed in women between the ages of 15-35. These lumps are usually not painful and may get bigger or smaller over time. They are usually moveable and well-defined. Some disappear completely and most don’t require treatment.
Fibrocystic breast changes
Fluctuating hormone levels can make breasts feel lumpy, dense and tender, especially right before your menstrual cycle. Symptoms often can worsen during certain parts of the menstrual cycle. Fibrocystic breast changes go away without treatment.
Hyperplasia
This occurs due to an overgrowth of cells that line your mammary ducts or glands. These cells have a higher-than-normal chance of becoming cancerous. Diagnosis is made through a breast biopsy. Typical hyperplasia (usual hyperplasia) slightly increases breast cancer risk, it but does not require surgery. If your diagnosis is atypical hyperplasia, your provider may recommend additional mammograms or surgically removing the affected breast tissue because this diagnosis increases your lifetime risk of breast cancer.
Intraductal papilloma
These small, wart-like non-cancerous growths form inside the mammary duct near the nipple. Symptoms can include a clear or bloody fluid from the nipple, pain or discomfort in one area of the breast, tenderness, or a small lump behind or next to the nipple Your cancer risk increases if you have five or more papillomas at one time. Removal may be recommended to confirm benign diagnosis.
Adenosis
This occurs when the lobules (milk-producing part of your breast) grow larger and contain more glands than usual. This can cause a painful lump that changes in size during your menstrual cycle. A biopsy may be necessary to rule out a breast cancer diagnosis.
Mammary duct ectasia
Women who have reached menopause are more prone to this condition which causes milk ducts to swell, thicken and sometimes become blocked causing the nipple to turn inward or leak discharge. Also known as periductal mastitis, this condition does not increase cancer risk. Antibiotics may be prescribed if bacterial infection causes the inflammation and blockage. Otherwise, no treatment is necessary.
Fat necrosis
These breast lumps form when scar tissue replaces breast tissue damaged by surgery, injury or radiation therapy. When breast tissue is damaged, fat cells in the tissue die and release oils that form cysts which can harden over time causing scar tissue. No treatment is necessary, and fat necrosis does not raise your cancer risk.
Breast calcifications
Breast calcifications are calcium deposits that commonly develop in breast tissue. They are painless and too tiny to feel, so they are typically revealed during a mammogram. While usually harmless, they can be an early sign of abnormal cell growth in your breast tissue. The size, shape and distribution of calcifications can provide clues to whether they are benign (noncancerous) or if more testing is needed to rule out breast cancer.
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is an increase in male breast tissue in newborns, boys and adult males. It is a benign (noncancerous) increase in breast tissue due to an increase in glandular tissue. Gynecomastia isn’t harmful to physical health, but it may make you self-conscious and affect self-esteem. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is causing distress or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Mastitis
Mastitis is a painful inflammation in your breast tissue that can lead to infection. Symptoms can include pain, redness, swelling and warmth. While anyone can get mastitis, breastfeeding women are at increased risk for mastitis which is caused by blocked milk ducts, cracked nipples or other factors that prevent milk from draining.
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:
If you feel a lump or notice a change in your breast tissue, see your healthcare provider immediately. Your provider will be able to assess, and they may order one or more of the following tests to diagnose your condition:
Benign breast conditions can affect anyone, but your risk for these conditions increases if you have the following:
Most benign breast conditions don’t require treatment. Your healthcare provider may recommend treatment for conditions that can increase your future risk of breast cancer. This could include surgical excision or medication to decrease your breast cancer risk or treat symptoms.