- Main benign causes of breast lump
- 1. Fibrocystic changes
- 2. Simple cysts
- 3. Fibroadenoma
- 4. Lipoma
- 5. Breast infections
- 6. Diabetic mastopathy
- Tests to identify the type of lump in the breast
- Treatment for lump in the breast
- Breast lump in man
The lump in the breast is a small lump that, in most cases, is not a sign of breast cancer, being just a benign alteration, such as fibroadenoma or a cyst, which normally do not need treatment.
Therefore, breast cancer should only be suspected when the lump has malignant characteristics, such as causing changes in the size and shape of the breast, or if there is a history of breast cancer in the family, especially in first-degree relatives.
Thus, if a lump is found during breast self-examination, for example, it is important to consult a mastologist and perform tests such as ultrasound or mammography, so that the doctor can identify whether the lump is benign or malignant and define the most appropriate treatment.
See when it can be cancer: How to know if the lump in the breast is malignant.
Main benign causes of breast lump
The lump in the breast that is not linked to cancer is called mastopathy and can appear only due to hormonal changes, disappear after menstruation or appear due to the appearance of a cyst or fibrosis of the breast tissue. Some of the most common causes of lump in the breast include:
1. Fibrocystic changes
Fibrocystic changes are the most common cause of lumps in the breasts and are related to hormonal changes in the woman's body, especially during menstruation or when being treated with some type of hormonal medicine.
Node characteristics: usually appears in the week before the menstrual period and disappears one week after the end of the period. They may present as painful and hard nodules, appearing in only one breast or both.
2. Simple cysts
Cystitis usually occurs in pre-menopausal women over the age of 40, being a non-severe breast disorder that rarely turns into cancer and does not require specific treatment.
Nodule characteristics: they are more common in both breasts and may change in size during the menstrual period. In addition, they can also be painful when a woman drinks caffeine through coffee, tea or chocolate, for example. See all symptoms here.
3. Fibroadenoma
Fibroadenoma is the most common type of breast lump in young women between the ages of 20 and 40 and is caused by the overgrowth of milk-producing glands and breast tissue. Learn more at: Breast fibroadenoma.
Nodule characteristics: they have a rounded shape, are slightly hard and can move freely around the breast, not being fixed in one place. In addition, they generally do not cause any pain.
4. Lipoma
Lipoma results from the accumulation of fatty tissue in the breast and, therefore, is not serious, and can be removed through surgery only for aesthetic reasons.
Nodule characteristics: they are soft, similar to small fat pads, which can move around the breast. However, in some cases lipomas can also be hard and may be mistaken for breast cancer.
5. Breast infections
Some breast infections, such as mastitis during pregnancy, for example, can cause inflammation of the tissues and ducts within the breast and lead to lumps. See the main symptoms of this problem in: Mastitis.
Nodule characteristics: usually cause breast pain, especially when pressed, and can lead to redness on the nodule site.
6. Diabetic mastopathy
Diabetic mastopathy is a rare and severe type of mastitis, an inflammation of the breast that causes pain, redness and the appearance of one or more lumps in the breasts, which can be mistaken for cancer. This disease appears only in people with diabetes who use insulin, mainly affecting women.
Nodule characteristics: hardened tumors appear that are painless at the beginning of the disease, and blisters and pus may also appear. See more at: Learn how to treat Diabetic Mastopathy.
Tests to identify the type of lump in the breast
The most used exams to diagnose the nodule are mammography and ultrasound, but the doctor can also use breast palpation in the consultation.
The mammography result is standardized, using the BI-RADS classification system and, therefore, the exam result can be:
- Category 0: exam failed to characterize changes and further tests are needed; Category 1: normal result, to be repeated in 1 year; Category 2: benign changes, without risk of cancer, and should be repeated in 1 year; Category 3: probably benign changes, with a 3% risk of cancer and it is recommended to repeat the exam in 6 months; Category 4: suspicious changes in malignancy and the risk of cancer is 20%, requiring biopsy and anatomopathological evaluation of breast tissue; Category 5: probably malignant changes with a 95% risk of cancer, surgery to remove the change being indicated, and preoperative biopsy may be performed; Category 6: diagnosis of established breast cancer.
The lump in the hypoechogenic or hypoechoic breast is just an expression that appears in the reports of imaging tests, not indicating the severity or malignancy of the lump.
Treatment for lump in the breast
Lumps in the breast usually do not need any treatment, as they do not cause any change in the patient's health and do not increase in size. However, when the lump is very painful or very large the gynecologist may recommend taking a contraceptive pill specific to the type of lump or aspirating the lump to relieve symptoms.
Breast lump in man
The male breast lump is usually associated with male breast cancer, but it can also be benign and, therefore, when noticing the presence of a lump, you should inform the doctor to perform diagnostic tests to identify the nodule origin.
See how to identify breast lumps early at: How to do breast self-examination.
