Breast lumps

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a worldwide annual campaign involving thousands of organizations, to highlight the importance of breast cancer awareness, education and research.

Breast cancer is one of the leading types of cancers that women in St Vincent and the Grenadines are affected by. As we raise awareness this month on this important health issue, I wish to highlight breast lumps, because the general perception is that all breast lumps are cancerous.{{more}}

Breast lumps are common and have a number of different causes. Most times, women who discover breast lumps become overly concerned and worry that they may be cancerous. Although most lumps are not cancerous, any unusual changes to the breasts should be checked by your physician as soon as possible.

There are several types of benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps, most of which are harmless and are caused by hormonal changes that occur at different times in a woman’s life, such as during the menstrual cycle. Most benign breast lumps are harmless and may not necessarily require any treatment.

Fibroadenosis or fibrocystic breast disease is a group of benign conditions that affect the breast. The symptoms can include: breast pain, increase in breast size, lumpiness of the breast, particularly just before or during a period. Fibroadenosis can develop in one or both breasts, or can affect just part of one breast. The symptoms can also vary significantly between women, with some women finding them slightly annoying and others finding them very painful. The pain and lumpiness will usually disappear after your period. The cause of fibroadenosis is not well understood. However, it may be the result of the breast tissue responding abnormally to hormonal changes that occur with the menstrual cycle.

Fibroadenomas are smooth, well-rounded solid lumps of tissue that sometimes develop outside the milk ducts. They are particularly common in young women. They are sometimes described as “breast mice,” because they can easily move around within the breast. Women generally report that they feel these in one place and then at another time they move to another location. They can disappear on their own, but they sometimes remain and grow larger, particularly during pregnancy. They don’t usually resolve after your period. It’s not clear what causes fibroadenomas, but it is thought they may occur because of an abnormal response to the hormone oestrogen.

Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop within the breast tissue and can cause smooth, firm lumps to develop. They are more common in women aged 30 to 60. Cysts vary in size. Some can be tiny, while others can grow to several centimetres in diameter. Single or multiple cysts can occur in one or both breasts. Cysts often do not cause any symptoms, although some women may experience pain.

Breast abscesses are painful collection of pus that forms inside the breast. In addition to a painful lump, symptoms of a breast abscess can include a high temperature (fever) and inflammation (redness and swelling) of the skin over the affected area. Most breast abscesses are caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria usually enter the breast through small cracks or breaks in the skin of the nipple, which can sometimes develop during breastfeeding.

There are many other types of benign breast lumps. These include mastitis, where breast tissue becomes painful and inflamed; fat necrosis, which is a hard, irregular lump, often caused by trauma or bruising to the breast; lipoma, which is a fatty growth that causes a lump and intraductal papilloma that is a wart-like growth in a milk duct, which may also cause nipple discharge.

Although the vast majority of breast lumps are benign, a lump in one of the breasts can sometimes be a sign of breast cancer in women and breast cancer in men. A lump is more likely to be a sign of breast cancer if it is clearly defined, feels firm, doesn’t move around, persists after your period or develops after menopause in women.

Breast cancer can also cause some other symptoms, such as discharge from your nipples, dimpling on the skin of the breasts, and changes in the appearance of the nipple.

It is, therefore, important that if you notice a lump, you visit your physician in order to determine the cause. Remember that early detection of breast cancer is important, so that adequate treatment can take place and you can live longer.

Dr Rosmond Adams is a medical doctor and a public health specialist. He may be emailed at adamsrosmond@gmail.com