What You Must Know About Lumps in the Breasts

Finding a lump in your breast may leave you with cold sweat. But here’s a reassuring fact: it usually isn't cancer.

If it’s not cancer, what could it be? Here is how to figure out what’s up – common breast symptoms and what to do about them.

SOFT LUMP – A soft, smooth, round lump (like a grape) that moves a little when you press on it and may cause pain when touched, it may be small or large, could be a cyst, or sac filled with natural fluid. It is caused by hormone changes around your period. As much as 30 percent of women between 35 and 50 get soft lumps in their breasts at one time or the other.

Get an ultrasound to see if the lump is filled with fluid or solid (and possibly cancerous). Your doctor can insert a needle to drain fluid and relieve pressure if the cyst is painful (although it may come back). Taking the Pill may lower the incidence of cysts.

Fluid leaking from both nipples could be milky discharge. It could be caused by a thyroid or pituitary gland problem. Other obvious causes are pregnancy, birth control pills, or nipple stimulation.

Talk to you doctor, if it’s a gland problem, it’s usually treatable with medications.

SOFT MASS – A soft, lumpy mass about 1 to 4 inches wide, accompanied by tenderness in one or both breasts before your period could be symptoms of fibrotic changes going on in the breasts. It is caused by fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, which can thicken breast tissue. The problem affects more than 50 percent of women and often comes and goes until menopause.

Reduce pain by taking paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen, or by wearing a supportive bra. Limiting fat and caffeine in your diet may help too. Talk to your doctor if symptoms persist.

HARD MASS – A hard solid mass that has irregular or jagged sides, as opposed to smooth edges, which usually won’t move or “give” when you push it could be cancerous tumor. Nobody knows for sure what causes it though age and family history are risk factors, and studies have shown that having 2 alcoholic drinks per day ups your risk by 10 percent.

The best thing to do is to call your doctor and get a mammogram.

HARD LUMP – A hard, round, clearly-defined lump (which could be very small or up to 5 inches wide) that can be moved under the skin without any pain could be a fibroadenoma. It is caused by changing hormone levels. These benign tumors are as common as cysts, bit they are not unusual among women in their 20s and 30s.

Get a mammogram. A biopsy is probably unnecessary, according to the latest research, but check with your doctor. Surgical removal is an option if the tumor is large.