They way breasts look or feel can change over the course of a menstrual cycle in response to fluctuating hormones.
Finding a lump, feeling pain, or noticing other breast or chest changes can cause worry, but these symptoms are common and are most often benign not cancer. By paying attention to your body, you can learn what is normal for you or when to seek care from a healthcare provider. All people regardless of sex have breast tissue and could potentially get breast cancer, but the risk is much higher in females.
Over a lifetime, 1 in 8 females and 1 in males will be diagnosed with breast cancer 1. Gender affirming hormone therapy for transgender men and transgender women does not appear to increase the chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer, but more research is needed 2,3.
Breast cancer is most common in people over 40 years old and the risk continues to increase with age 1. While breast cancer is uncommon in younger people, it is more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and to be deadly in this group 4. For people going to see their healthcare provider because of a breast lump, 9 out of 10 times it is not cancer 5.
Breast tissue responds to the hormones produced throughout the menstrual cycle and may feel lumpier at certain points in the cycle 6. Two types of benign lumps that are common are cysts fluid-filled sacs and fibroadenomas benign masses made up of glands and fibrous breast tissue.
They are most common between menarche when periods first start during puberty and menopause when periods stop permanently. Cysts and fibroadenomas usually feel firm, are often smaller than 2 cm 0.
Some people may notice that their breasts or chest feels generally lumpy, ropey, or like a bean bag. This is called fibrocystic breasts and is typically found on both sides. Feeling this type of lumpiness throughout the breasts or chest is usually not a sign of cancer 5. Of course there are some breast or chest lumps that do turn out to be cancer. A lump in someone who is older than 40 years old is more likely to be cancer than a lump in someone younger 9.
A lump that is larger than 2 cm 0. If you notice a new lump, a healthcare provider can order tests to diagnose what it is. The majority of lumps turn out to be harmless, or benign, masses or growths.
These include:. Fibrocystic changes —painful, lumpy breasts that often get worse before your period. Benign lumps can also develop from fatty tissue deposits or from breastfeeding, when sacs filled with milk form cysts. You can even get a lump from an injury, such as when your breast gets bruised or after breast surgery. Breast lumps come in all shapes, sizes, and textures. They can come and go too, especially in premenopausal women. A cyst can become more tender or noticeable during one part of your menstrual cycle, for instance, and then be less so after your period ends.
A lump may be more noticeable after significant weight loss. Checking your breasts regularly can help you get a sense of what feels normal for your body—and make it easier to notice if something seems different.
Fat necrosis This occurs when fatty breast tissue is damaged by injury to the breast, resulting in the formation of round, firm lumps. It's more common in women with large breasts, particularly in obese women. Your doctor will most likely watch the lump through several menstrual cycles and may decide to remove it surgically. Sometimes the necrosis will produce what is called an oily cyst, which your doctor can drain with a needle.
Nipple discharge Sometimes women experience nipple discharge with or without a breast lump. The color of nipple discharge can vary from yellow to green. A clear to milky discharge may mean a hormonal malfunction. Greenish black discharge could be related to duct ectasia, a narrowing or blockage of the duct. A bloody discharge can mean cancer but is more likely to be due to injury, infection, or a benign tumor. Your doctor may study the fluid under a microscope to determine the problem.
Mastitis An infection of the milk duct, mastitis can create a lumpy, red, and warm breast, accompanied by fever. It occurs most commonly in women who are breastfeeding, but can occur in non-breastfeeding women as well. Treatment involves warm compresses and antibiotics. Because these symptoms are similar to inflammatory breast cancer, if they occur in a non-breastfeeding woman a doctor may want to do a biopsy. Other, less-common conditions Some medical conditions cause breast lumps, including hyperplasia, which is an overgrowth of cells in the breast ducts or lobules; adenosis, which causes enlarged lobules; intraductal papilloma, a wart-like growth of gland tissue that grows in the duct; and lipoma , which is a benign fatty tumor.
Though most breast lumps are benign, some do turn out to be cancerous. If a tumor is cancerous, it will continue to grow and invade normal nearby tissue. Most cancerous breast tumors first appear as single, hard lumps or thickening under the skin. Other signs to watch for include a change in nipple appearance, nipple secretions, nipple tenderness, and a dimpling or puckering of the skin.
About half of cancerous breast lumps appear in the upper, outer quadrant of the breast, extending into the armpit. About 18 percent of breast cancer tumors show up in the nipple area. Around 11 percent are found in the lower quadrant, and 6 percent are located in the lower, inner quadrant. Most benign breast conditions are treatable, and some will even go away on their own, but it's best to let your doctor be the one to tell you that. All breast lumps should be evaluated by a medical professional, who will help you decide how to proceed.
Additional reporting by Julie Marks.
0コメント