About this symptom
A breast lump is any new lump, thickening or swelling in the breast. It may be found by chance or when checking your breasts, and it may or may not hurt. Many things can cause one.
Most breast lumps are harmless, and tests usually show a lump is not cancer. Common harmless causes are cysts and fibroadenomas. But some lumps are serious, including breast cancer, and you cannot tell the cause by looking or feeling. That is why every new lump should be checked by a doctor, without waiting. Cancer that is found when it is small is more likely to be treated successfully.
Possible causes
This is not a diagnosis. These are the causes doctors think about, with the ones that are most urgent to rule out first.
- Breast cancerMost lumps are not cancer, but cancer can show as a lump that is hard and does not move, dimpled skin, a turned-in nipple, bloodstained discharge or a change in size or shape. It may not hurt.Read about it
- Breast infection (mastitis or abscess)The breast is red, hot, swollen and painful, often with a high temperature or shivering. It needs prompt treatment.
- FibroadenomaA firm, rounded lump that moves easily under the skin and is usually painless. It is the most common harmless lump in women under 30.
- Breast cystA fluid-filled sac that may be tender before a period. Most common in women who have not yet reached menopause.
- Fibrocystic breast changesLumpy, tender or swollen breasts, often changing with the monthly cycle. Very common, and not cancer.
- Fat necrosisA round, firm lump, usually painless, that can follow an injury, surgery or radiation. The skin over it may look red, bruised or dimpled.
When to get help
See a doctor without waiting, in the next few days, for any of these:
- A new lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, even if it does not hurt
- A lump that is hard and does not move around, or is getting bigger
- Dimpled skin like orange peel, or redness or a rash on the breast or nipple
- A nipple that has turned inwards, or bloodstained discharge from the nipple
- A change in the size or shape of a breast
- Breast pain that does not go away, especially with a family history of breast cancer
There is no need to wait for your next period, or for the lump to grow, before you go. Every new lump needs a check, even when none of the signs above are present. If a lump has already been checked, tell the doctor if it changes.
What you can do at home
Home care cannot tell you what a lump is. Its job is to help you notice changes and get help early.
Do
- Check your breasts about once a month, looking and feeling, so you know what is normal for you
- Note where the lump is, how big it is, and whether it changes with your period
- Book a visit now, rather than waiting to see if it goes away
Do not
- Do not try to work out the cause of a lump yourself
- Do not ignore a lump because it does not hurt
- Do not put off the visit out of fear: most lumps are not cancer, and early treatment works better
What the doctor will do
The doctor will ask about the lump, when you noticed it, whether it has changed, pain, nipple discharge, your periods, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and any family history of breast cancer. They will examine both breasts and the armpits.
If they are not sure what the lump is, you will be sent for more tests, often done in one visit. They may include:
- A breast examination by a specialist
- A scan, usually a (a breast X-ray) or an scan
- A , where a needle takes a small sample of cells from the lump to be tested
Results are often given the same day, but biopsy results can take about a week. Being sent for these tests does not mean you have cancer. Treatment depends on what the lump is, and many harmless lumps need none.
Myths and facts
Things people often say about this. Open each one to see what is true.
Myth“A lump that does not hurt is nothing, and a painful lump must be serious.”What is true?
Fact
Pain does not tell you whether a lump is harmless. Breast cancer lumps can be painless, and breast pain on its own is rarely a sign of cancer. Any new lump needs checking, whether or not it hurts.
Myth“A breast lump always means cancer.”What is true?
Fact
Most breast lumps are not cancer. Cysts and fibroadenomas are common harmless causes. But only a doctor can tell, so every new lump should still be checked.
Myth“Wait a month or two and see if it goes away.”What is true?
Fact
Some lumps do go away on their own, but you cannot tell which ones. Cancer is more likely to be treated successfully when it is found small, so do not wait to see.
Myth“Breast lumps only happen to older women.”What is true?
Fact
Harmless lumps can appear at any age. A fibroadenoma is most common in women under 30, and cysts are most common in women who have not yet reached menopause. Whatever your age, have a new lump checked.
Questions to ask your doctor
Tick the ones you want answered and take them with you.
Common questions
Is every breast lump cancer?
No. Most breast lumps are harmless, and tests usually show that a lump is not cancer. Common causes are cysts and fibroadenomas. Some lumps are serious, though, and you cannot tell which by feel, so every new lump should be seen by a doctor.
What happens when I see a doctor about a breast lump?
The doctor examines your breasts and asks about the lump. If they are not sure of the cause, you are sent for more tests, such as a mammogram or ultrasound scan and sometimes a needle biopsy. These are often done in one visit. Being sent for tests does not mean you have cancer.
Can a breast lump go away on its own?
Some do, without treatment. But you cannot tell at home which lumps will, so do not wait to see. Have a new lump checked first, and tell the doctor if a lump that was checked before changes.
My breasts feel lumpy and tender before my period. Is that normal?
Breasts can change naturally with the monthly cycle, and lumpy, tender breasts are common and are not cancer. Get to know how your breasts usually feel, and see a doctor about a new lump, a lump that stays, or any change that is unusual for you.