Lumps in Breast Tissue and What It Means
A Girl's Guide to Breast Tissue
Last Summer, health researchers recommended that women no longer need to perform self-breast exams, but that hasn't stopped me. A few women I know discovered breast cancer early through self-examinations and received early treatment, which saved their lives.
Breast tissue tends to be lumpy, so when you examine your girls each month, you want to look , or rather feel, for changes in consistency, size, or tenderness. If you happen to feel something different from the surrounding tissue, you may instantly think breast cancer. Here's a guide from Health magazine to help you figure out what to do based on what you feel.
| What you feel | Cause and what it means | What to do |
| Soft lump: it's smooth and round (like a grape), and it moves a little when you press on it. This lump may be painful to the touch, and it can range in size from small to large. | Caused by hormonal changes in your menstrual cycle, it could be a cyst or sacs filled with natural fluid. | Get an ultrasound. If it is a cyst, your doctor may recommend that you go on the pill to lower your chance of developing cysts. |
If you felt something different read more.
| What you feel | Cause and what it means | What to do |
| Hard lump: this will feel like a clearly defined smooth, hard, rubbery, round lump. It could be small like a pea, or up to five inches wide. If you can move it around under your skin and it doesn't hurt, then it sounds like it's a fibroadenoma, which is a noncancerous tumor. | They're not as common as cysts, but not uncommon for women in their 20s and 30s since they're caused by hormonal changes. | Make an appointment with your doctor just to be sure. |
| Fluid leaking from both nipples. | It could be caused by a thyroid or pituitary problem. Some women also experience discharge from this area when pregnant, taking birth control pills, or from stimulation. | Talk to your doctor. If it is a gland issue, medication should clear it right up. |
| Soft mass: it's soft, lumpy, and about one to four inches wide. It may be tender right before your period. | It's most likely caused by fluctuations in your hormones, which thickens breast tissue. | This isn't anything a little acetaminophen or ibuprofen (or chocolate) can't take care of. Wearing a more supportive bra may offer relief as well. |
| Hard mass: you feel a solid, irregular-shaped mass with jagged edges that won't move when you push on it. | Nobody knows for sure. Age, family history, and alcohol intake could be factors. | This is something to have checked out by your doctor immediately, as it could be cancerous. |
Source: Getty
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