If you have noticed a lump in your breast, don't panic. It is normal to be worried, but remember that most of these growths are benign and not cancerous. However, if you have any doubts, it is absolutely essential that you call your gynecologist and have the lump examined (in case it really was a carcinoma, prompt diagnosis is vital). The important thing is to learn how to identify a breast lump so you won't overlook any details that could be of concern in the future.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Detect Nodules and Breast Anomalies on Your Own
Step 1. Perform breast self-palpation every month looking for a lump
Most of the neoformations are noticed by the women themselves, often by chance (in fact, 40% of breast tumors have been identified by women who have reported the presence of a lump to their doctor).
- Start by standing in front of the mirror to look at your breasts; keep your hands on your hips to assume a posture that allows a better observation and comparison of the breasts. Things to look out for include: breasts should be similar in size, shape and color; there should be no swelling, skin changes, fluid leaks from the nipples or changes in the nipples themselves; you shouldn't feel pain or redness.
- The next step is to lift both arms and check the breasts again following the list described above. Changing the position of the arms also alters that of the breasts and you can notice any abnormalities.
- The next stage of the exam is to lie down. Raise your right arm above your head. With your left hand, apply some pressure to the right breast. Move your fingers in a circular fashion around the nipple, over the surrounding tissues and towards the armpit. Remember to examine the entire surface of the breast, from the collarbone to the base of the rib cage and from the armpit to the breastbone. Now you can lift your left arm and repeat the whole process using your right hand this time on your left breast, surrounding tissues and corresponding armpit.
- You can also perform self-palpation while taking a shower. In reality, the tactile sensitivity of the fingers is better when the skin is wet and soapy, since the hand is able to slide better on the breast tissues.
Step 2. See your gynecologist if you come across new lumps (most are pea-sized) or hardened areas of the tissue
In this case, don't be scared; there is a high chance that it is not cancer, in fact 8 out of 10 nodules are not. Typically, benign growths are caused by cysts, fibroadenomas, or generic masses of breast tissue.
- It is not uncommon for nodules to develop over a short period of time; they are usually related to the menstrual cycle, disappear and recur every month in relation to menstruation and in some cases are referred to as "physiological nodules".
- To distinguish "physiological breast lumps" (linked to the cycle) from worrying ones, try to understand if they enlarge and reduce over the course of the month and if this behavior is repeated monthly based on your menstrual cycle. If this is not the case or if the lump continues to grow, then it is best to consult the gynecologist.
- The best time to perform a breast self-exam is one week before menstruation (this is the stage when you are less likely to have physiological lumps from a hormonal point of view). If you are postmenopausal or your periods are very irregular, you can simply check your breasts on the same day every month to keep the procedure as constant as possible.
Step 3. Pay particular attention to growths that suddenly grow or change shape
Most women have patches of different texture within the breast tissue (this is the natural constitution of the breast), but if this changes over time or abnormal areas develop, then there may be cause for concern. You can also evaluate one breast by comparing it with the other and if they look the same to you, you have no reason to worry; however, if one breast has a lump that you don't see in the other, then it's worth having further checks.
Step 4. Be aware of other troubling symptoms
These may or may not manifest with the presence of the lump; if so, then there is a greater chance that the growth will cause some problems and you will need to undergo a medical check-up relatively quickly.
- Check for bloody discharge or pus from your nipples.
- Look for red or pink rashes near or around the nipple.
- See if the nipple has changed, especially if it has become inverted.
- Study the skin of the breast. If you feel that it has thickened, peeling, looks dry, pitted, red or an abnormally pink color, then you should see your doctor.
Method 2 of 2: Seek Help and Get a Medical Evaluation
Step 1. Call your GP if you are unsure of the nature of the lump
It is always better to be reassured that everything is normal or to undergo the necessary diagnostic tests within a short time, in case the doctor thinks there is cause for concern.
- Doctors are well trained and know how to evaluate and diagnose breast lumps, especially they are able to rule out cancerous ones. If in doubt, don't hesitate to ask your doctor's opinion and advice.
- Breast cancer is a realistic concern for many women (it is the first most diagnosed cancer for women). One in nine women are diagnosed, so you should get the lump for medical attention as soon as possible if you have any doubts. Most growths are benign in nature (which is not a concern) and many cancers diagnosed and treated promptly are completely treatable.
- However, keep in mind that breast cancer under 20 is very rare, and not very common under 30.
Step 2. Make an appointment for a mammogram
Perform this test annually or as often as determined by your gynecologist. It is a test that irradiates the breast tissue with a low dose of X-rays and is able to localize any abnormalities.
- Mammography is the first test to detect and diagnose breast cancer. It can be used as a screening test (a routine test that every woman over 40 should undergo to rule out cancer, regardless of the presence of symptoms or lumps) or as a diagnostic method (for those women who have a lump that needs to be be examined to understand the danger).
- For a young patient with particularly dense breast tissue, a breast MRI may be the better solution than a mammogram.
- People who undergo mammography for diagnostic purposes (to understand if the growth is potentially a problem) will also have to perform other tests to provide the gynecologist with all the necessary information and thus determine the nature of the breast lump.
Step 3. If your doctor recommends it, do a breast ultrasound to investigate the abnormality further
This exam gives the gynecologist another point of view than mammography and helps distinguish solid masses from cystic ones (fluid-filled nodules that are not scary, in other words, non-cancerous nodules).
Ultrasound also provides other information about whether or not to undergo a biopsy (taking a tissue sample done with a needle; the doctor will then examine the sample under a microscope)
Step 4. If other tests fail to rule out the possibility of cancer, ask your gynecologist to prescribe a biopsy
Thanks to this procedure it is possible to analyze under the microscope a sample of breast tissue and thus find the definitive answer on the benign or malignant (cancerous) nature of the neoformation.
- If the lump turns out to be a malignant tumor, then you will be referred to an oncologist (cancer specialist) and perhaps even a surgeon to evaluate hormonal, surgical, or chemotherapy treatment, based on the severity of the situation.
- Again you have to remember that most breast lumps Not it is a carcinoma. However, it is always better to undergo a medical examination to perform all the necessary tests to rule out the worst case scenario or to start treatment as soon as possible (so as to have the best prognosis), if it really was cancer.
- In some cases, a breast MRI or galactography is done as a "diagnostic test," but these are less common than mammography, ultrasound or biopsy.
Step 5. Undergo subsequent checkups as directed by your doctor
When a lump is diagnosed as benign, doctors often find continuous monitoring necessary to promptly detect any development or mutation. In most cases there is no change in the benign neoformations, but it is always better to be foresight and pay attention to any lump or alteration of the consistency of the breast tissue, to identify any anomaly (at this point it will be necessary to visit the gynecologist or at least at the family doctor).
Advice
- There are many benign conditions that cause lumps in the breast and do not necessarily lead to cancer. Most growths are not problematic (but it is always best to have a checkup when in doubt, to rule out any worrying possibility).
- Remember that there are many factors that contribute to breast tissue changes. These include a woman's age, her menstrual cycle, hormones and medication intake. For this reason, it is important that self-palpation (checking one's breasts) occurs at the same time each month, usually a week before menstruation, to minimize the influence of other variables that can cause transient nodules (very often associated with the menstrual cycle and which are called "physiological breast lumps").
- Breast cancer is quite rare in young women; for this reason the gynecologist could opt for a "wait and see" attitude when he notices a lump or other variation of the breast tissue in these patients. However, as always, it's better to be safe than sorry and you should make an appointment with your gynecologist if you have any concerns or concerns. If nothing else, you will be able to sleep peacefully at night having received all the necessary reassurance from a professional or by having undergone all the necessary tests.
