Know Different Types of Breast Lumps

Women experience changes in their breasts right since puberty. At some point of time, during self-examination, if they discover any swelling or something unusual, it should not be ignored, as these could be breast lumps. Certain kinds of breast lumps lead to breast cancer, while others are harmless.

Fatty Lumps - These breast lumps are formed when the fat cells of the blood take the appearance of lumps. This condition of fat nercosis could be in the form of redness or stiffness, on and around the lump, and may be painful at times. An old lump is painless and often goes away with time, but the scars may not heal for long. A new lump, if it is painful and persists for long, should be observed and treated accordingly.

Although these lumps are non cancerous, they may appear to be similar to cancerous cells during ultrasound or mammography.

A lipoma is another kind of lump formed in the fat cells. It is usually soft and tends to move when touched with a finger. It does not cause cancer.

Cysts - A breast cycst is formed due to changes in menstrual cycle, and is therefore rarely found in women who are approaching or have entered their menopause. It is like a small bag filled with fluid and is round in appearance. It is smooth to touch and could be painful, but is non cancerous. It often dissolves on its own. Sometimes the doctors insert a needle in the lump to check the colour of the fluid. If it is yellow in colour, it is regarded as harmless, but if it is similar to the colour of blood, then it is a cause for conce
and may have to be tested to give the right treatment to the patient.

Abscesses too are like open sacs of infection in the breast. They are hard and warm when touched, and can be very painful. These are common in breast-feeding women and are non cancerous.

Senaceous Cysts are closed sacs around the hair follicle. They can increase in size due to hormonal imbalance and are non cancerous. They tend to cure on their own and need no treatment.

Fibroadenomas appear like masses of rubber and are firm. They move around when touched with a finger. They respond to hormonal changes, and tend to enlarge during pregnancy and contract during menopause. They continue to grow in size and could become as large as a plum at times, but are non cancerous. This could make a patient very anxious, as they may have to be removed with surgery if they do not dissolve on their own over time.

Phyllodes Tumor - Although harmless, phyllodes tumors are sometimes even larger tha
Fibroadenomas and can be mistaken for them. They are rare and not as common as Fibroadenomas. They have to be removed by surgery, however, once removed they can reoccur.

All lumps that can cause cancer should be diagnosed and treated well in time, and then followed up by regular check ups. Regular visits to the doctor ensure that one's breasts remain healthy.