What does a breast lump feel like? Questions about breast cancer symptoms, including lumps and pain

Cancer is uncontrolled cell proliferation resulting from accumulated genetic damage. Factors such as division speed and whether growth is invasive determine its course. For example, a slowly dividing, noninvasive mass isbenign, while rapidly growing invasive formations aremalignantmasses.

Today, of every 8 women, nearly 1 develops breast cancer, making it the most common cancer in women. In men, the risk compared with women is approximately, for every 200 female breast cancer cases, 1 male breast cancer case. Because it is so common among women, recognizing symptoms and understanding lump and pain characteristics are important.

Early signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer may produce lumps, masses, pain, skin changes and swelling, but some cases have no signs, making early diagnosis difficult.

In breast cancer, the most common finding is a lump or mass felt in the breast. Other possible symptoms include:

• Breast or nipple pain
• Swelling, irritation or discoloration of the breast or nipple
• Nipple retraction
• A new mole or change in an existing mole on the breast or nipple
• Tender or enlarged glands in the armpit or neck
• Nipple discharge
• Changes in the overall size, shape or appearance of the breast or nipple
• A hoarse, persistent cough
• Appetite changes
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain after eating
• Painful or difficult urination or bowel movements
• Blood in urine or stool
• Unexplained weight gain or loss
• Night sweats
• General weakness or fatigue

Note: Sometimes the first signs arise from spread to distant organs. Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to bones, lungs and liver. Patients may present with bone pain, shortness of breath or jaundice resulting from these metastases.

What do breast lumps feel like?

Characteristics vary with cause, location and size, ranging from painful, hard, immobile masses to soft, painless, mobile ones. Painless, hard, irregularly shaped, immobile masses are more likely malignant. Benign fibroadenomas are painless, easily movable and regularly shaped and may disappear spontaneously. Breast cysts have smooth edges and are firm, while abscesses and breast inflammation produce painful, swollen lumps, usually with fever or redness of the overlying skin.

Mammography is the screening method that can detect breast cancer early. Although not one hundred percent effective, mammograms offer the earliest diagnosis. Because symptoms may be absent and cover a very broad spectrum, regular mammography screening is even more important.

Noncancerous causes of breast lumps

Most breast masses have benign, noncancerous causes. Some cause pain and changes but are not life-threatening and do not metastasize. However, because breast cancer risk increases in these cases, some may be surgically removed following appropriate investigations. These benign masses include:

• Fibroadenomas
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Ductal or lobular hyperplasia
• Cysts, abscesses
• Breast infection
• Lipoma
• Intraductal papilloma
• Fat necrosis
• Milk duct dilation
• Scars or lesions from previous biopsies

When should you see a doctor?

Consult a doctor if any of the above signs or symptoms occur. They should be assessed and examined by a physician, with further investigations such as mammography or MRI if needed.

Mammography uses X-rays to display fatty tissue as dark and connective tissue as light. Younger women have higher breast density (connective tissue density), producing more light areas; since masses and lumps also appear light, distinguishing them can be difficult.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and ultrasound may be used less frequently at a physician’s request, and a biopsy may also be taken in suspicious cases if the physician decides.