Suspicious breast lumps

Date Updated: 10/29/2021

Overview

A breast lump is a growth of tissue that develops within your breast. Finding a lump in your breast can be frightening and provoke anxiety. Most breast lumps aren't dangerous, but it's important to see your doctor to have them evaluated promptly.

Symptoms

Breast tissue normally might feel lumpy or ropy and you may have tenderness that comes and goes with your menstrual period.

If you have an underlying breast condition, you might notice changes in how your breasts normally feel, such as:

A round, smooth and firm breast lump
A large, solid-feeling lump that moves easily under your skin
A hard, irregular-shaped breast lump
Skin redness or dimpling like an orange
Changes in breast size or shape
Fluid leaking from your nipple

Causes

Breast lumps can result from:

Breast cysts. If you find a breast lump that feels round, smooth and firm, it could be a cyst — a dilated milk duct filled with fluid. A breast cyst can be large or small, and the surrounding breast tissue may be tender. A breast cyst may appear before your menstrual period and get smaller or disappear afterward.
Fibrocystic breast changes. With fibrocystic breast changes, you may feel fullness in your breasts with areas of lumpiness or ridgelike areas. Your breasts may feel tender. Many women experience fibrocystic breast changes related to their menstrual cycles that tend to improve after the menstrual cycle.
Fibroadenomas. Fibroadenomas are solid, noncancerous breast tumors that are smooth and move easily under your skin when touched. A fibroadenoma may grow larger. Factors that may be associated with fibroadenoma growth include being pregnant, using hormone therapy or menstruation.
Injuries and infections. A severe injury to your breast tissue or nearby nerves can create a breast lump. Doctors describe this condition as fat necrosis. A collection of infected fluid (abscess) in breast tissue also can cause a breast lump, one that's often associated with localized breast pain and inflammation of the skin.
Breast cancer. A breast lump that's painless, hard, irregularly shaped and different from surrounding breast tissue might be breast cancer. Skin covering the lump may look red, dimpled or pitted like the skin of an orange. Your breast size and shape may change, or you may notice discharge from the nipple.

Only by seeing your doctor for evaluation can you be certain of what kinds of tests you might need and which type of breast lump you have.