Breast lumps

Definition

A breast lump is a growth of tissue that develops within your breast. A breast lump is often interchangeably described as a mass, swelling, thickness or fullness.

A breast lump can feel distinct and have definite borders, or it could feel more like a general area of thickened tissue in your breast. You may notice other breast changes accompanying a breast lump, such as skin redness, distension, dimpling or pitting; breast asymmetry; breast pain; nipple inversion; or unusual nipple discharge.

Sometimes, a breast lump is a sign of breast cancer. That's why your doctor should promptly evaluate any breast lump you find. Fortunately, most breast lumps result from noncancerous (benign) conditions.

Causes

Breast lump causes:

• Breast cancer
• Breast cyst
• Fibroadenoma
• Fibrocystic changes
• Hamartoma
• Injury or trauma to the breast
• Intraductal papilloma
• Lipoma
• Mastitis
• Milk cyst (galactocele)
• Phyllodes tumor

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor for breast lump evaluation without delay if:

• The breast lump is new or unusual and feels different from surrounding tissue in that breast or tissue in your other breast.
• The breast lump doesn't go away after your next menstrual period.
• You notice the breast lump has changed — getting bigger, firmer or more defined from the surrounding breast tissue.
• You have bloody, possibly spontaneous, discharge from your nipple.
• You notice skin changes on your breast, such as redness, crusting, dimpling or puckering.
• Your nipple is turned inward (inverted), although it isn't normally positioned that way.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

• Is it breast cancer? Procedures to evaluate breast lumps

RELATED

• Breast rash: Could it be inflammatory breast cancer?
• Podcast: Inflammatory breast cancer — Know the symptoms
• Breast cancer
• Inflammatory breast cancer
• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Invasive lobular carcinoma
• Breast cysts
• Is it breast cancer? Procedures to evaluate breast lumps
• Nipple discharge: Rarely a sign of serious disease

MayoClinic.com Bookstore

• 'Mayo Clinic Guide to Women's Cancers' (Hardcover)