A breast lump is basically a lump that forms in a person's breast tissue. The vast majority of breast lumps are non-cancerous and are known as benign. However, cancerous breast lumps can be deadly, which is why the discovery of a breast lump is concerning and why it's important to catch them early. Doctors can perform tests and sometimes surgical biopsies to determine if a breast lump is benign or malignant.
A person can develop a breast lump in any part of their breast tissue. For example, one woman may develop one under her nipple, while another may discover one in the breast tissue near her armpit. These packages can be of any size. A woman may notice a pea-sized breast lump or a lump that is larger than an egg. The size of the lump does not indicate whether it is cancerous or not.
Interestingly, most people think of women when discussing breast lumps and breast cancer. However, they can also affect men. For this reason, a person of either gender should see a doctor immediately upon discovering a lump in the breast area. A doctor can help determine if the lump is benign or cancerous and what, if anything, should be done to treat it.
Since breast cancer is the leading killer of women, women are advised to perform monthly self-exams to check for lumps. Detecting breast cancer early can dramatically affect a person's prognosis, so these self-screenings are vital. A woman may also receive an annual breast exam from her gynecologist. As women get older, they usually get regular mammograms, which are X-rays of breast tissue. People with a family history of breast cancer may need to have mammograms at a younger age.
Doctors can sometimes use imaging tests to determine whether or not a breast lump is benign. However, if this does not provide enough certainty, a doctor may perform a biopsy of the breast tissue. To perform a breast biopsy, doctors remove a sample of abnormal breast tissue and examine it for cancer cells. Depending on the lump and the preferences of the doctor and patient, this may be done with a needle or through surgery to remove the lump. A pathologist is responsible for examining the tissue and determining if it is benign or cancerous.