Breast Lump
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Breast Lump

If you've ever felt a lump in your breast, you may have been worried that it could be cancer. While breast cancer is a serious concern, most lumps are benign (non-cancerous). It is a localized bump, bulge, protuberance, or swelling that can occur anywhere on the body, including the breast. Lump in the breast are commonly found during a self-breast exam or by a healthcare provider during a routine physical exam.

There are many different types of breast lumps, and they can vary in size, shape, and consistency. Let us discuss what causes breast lumps, what does a breast lump feels like and how they're typically treated.

Symptoms of breast lumps

It is recommended to see your physician if you are seeing signs such as:

  • The lump does not disappear after menstruation
  • The lump changes or grows larger
  • The breast region looks different or somewhat different from other regions
  • When the nipple discharges fluid like blood
  • When the nipple is inverted (if you do not have an inverted nipple earlier)
  • The breast’s skin starts to pucker similar to an orange peel or turns red
  • The breast is swollen or bruised without any apparent reason

Causes of breast lumps

Benign or malignant lump:

A painful lump in the breast can be either benign or malignant. Benign lumps are usually not cancerous, while malignant lumps have chances to be cancerous. It is important to determine whether a lump is benign or malignant, as this will guide further treatment decisions. There are several ways to determine whether it is a breast cancer lump. It includes imaging scans such as MRI or magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, or mammograms. If it is non-cancerous and you wish to remove the lump, you need to consult your healthcare physician. 

Treatment options for breast lumps:

Excision: Excision is a surgical procedure that removes a lesion or tumor from the body. This can be done through a variety of methods, including traditional surgery, laser surgery, or even cryotherapy. The most common type of excision is a traditional surgical excision, which is performed by making an incision in the skin and removing the lesion. It is performed as an outpatient procedure, which means that the patient can go home the same day. The procedure takes around one hour. During the procedure, the patient will be given local anesthesia or general anesthesia.

Breast conservation surgery: Breast conservation surgery is a surgical procedure used to remove cancer or the lump on the breast while preserving as much of the breast as possible. This type of surgery is also referred to as a lumpectomy. The surgery involves removing the tumor and a small amount of surrounding normal tissue, and is usually followed by radiation therapy. The main goal of breast conservation surgery is to remove cancer or lump while preserving the shape and appearance of the breast.

Suggested/Recommended treatments