A lump in the breast refers to a hardening or swelling, especially in the female breast. This change can be painful or can go completely unnoticed for a long time. A lump does not always have to be the dreaded breast cancer.
What are lumps in the breast?
If a woman notices a lump in her breast, she usually immediately fears cancer. However, in very few cases is really a malignant tumor responsible for the swelling. A lump in the breast is usually a hardened change inside the breast. It usually affects the female breast, but in individual cases it can also affect men. In some cases, the change causes pain, for example when pressing or palpating the breast. Often, however, lumps in the breast go unnoticed for a long time because they do not cause any discomfort, and are detected more by chance. Many women notice the tissue changes in the upper area of their breast. A medical examination is always advisable in the case of a lump in the breast, since in the worst case a cancer can be hidden behind the hardening. In fact, however, it is breast cancer in only one in five cases.
Causes
If a woman notices a lump in her breast, she usually immediately fears cancer. However, in very few cases is really a malignant tumor responsible for the swelling. A cyst or inflammation of the breast (called mastitis) can also cause a clearly palpable hardening in the breast tissue. Adenomas (swellings of the glandular tissue) or lipomas (benign tumors of the fatty tissue) are also possible causes of a lump in the breast. Some of these conditions do not require medical treatment, but others can significantly increase the risk of cancer in the future, for example, and must therefore be treated appropriately.
Diseases with this symptom
- Breast cysts
- Breast cysts
- Breast cancer
- Lipoma
- Metastases
- Mastopathy
Diagnosis and course
A lump in the breast is usually discovered by the patient herself. When palpating the breast or during personal hygiene, a change is noticed that was not there before. A visit to the doctor can clarify the exact cause, for example by taking a tissue sample, which allows the attending physician to determine whether the lump is benign or malignant. A blood sample or an ultrasound examination can also help with the exact diagnosis. The exact course of the disease depends on the exact cause. While a small benign tumor may not require treatment, inflammation or malignant tumors can significantly affect the patient’s health or even become life-threatening.
Complications
The possible complications of lumps in the breast depend mainly on the underlying disease. This is because lumps in the breast are based on either benign or malignant diseases. The majority of lumps in the breast are benign and cause few complications. However, only a physician is able to determine the cause of the lumps in the breast. Since lumps in the breast usually cause concern to the affected person, a quick examination is important. This is because if the lumps in the breast are caused by a malignant disease such as breast cancer, serious complications will result without treatment, sometimes leading to the death of the patient. Malignant tumors in the breast often continue to spread without therapy. Initially, they grow in the breast area. In advanced stages, breast cancer forms distant metastases in the body that affect other organs. This results not only in severe pain but also in increasing restrictions of organ functions. Finally, the affected persons die from the consequences of the breast cancer. However, various complications are also possible in the treatment of lumps in the breast, especially in the case of malignant tumors or breast cancer. Even after successful surgical removal, it is possible for the carcinomas to recur and for the disease to be fatal.
When should you see a doctor?
If there is a suspicion of a lump in the breast, it is necessary to consider at what point it is necessary to see a doctor. If a sudden hardening is felt or even seen in the breast, a doctor should always be consulted.This is true even if you have no pain at all. The first point of contact in such a case is the gynecologist. The affected person should consider when he first felt the lump, he should try to determine when it could have arisen. Attention should also be paid to any increase in the size of the lump. In this case, a general change in the breast tissue is also a reason to visit the gynecologist. It is also important to check whether one of the breasts has recently become larger than the other. Has a nipple retracted or flattened. Especially the discharge of a watery bloody fluid is extremely alarming. In this case, a doctor should be consulted immediately. The skin can also be a warning signal. If it is strongly reddened, itchy, scaly or orange peel skin or even an ulcer forms, these are prompts for a check-up.
Treatment and therapy
If a lump has been discovered in the breast and an accurate diagnosis has been made by the doctor, appropriate therapy can be started. If there is inflammation of the breast or, for example, of the glands, this can be treated with medication. For this purpose, antibiotics are used, for example, to contain the infection. If the milk ducts are permanently or repeatedly inflamed, for example after breastfeeding, the affected milk duct can be surgically removed. Supportive bras can be used here to relieve the tissue and prevent pain. In the case of a tumor, therapy becomes necessary if it is malignant or growing rapidly. In this case, the attending physician will surgically remove the tumor to rule out later discomfort. An abscess can be opened by the doctor and disinfected after controlled drainage of the pus, so that no further painful swellings form. In the case of cancer, surgery is also usually performed to excise the tumor. In some cases, however, the entire breast must be amputated to prevent the cancer cells from spreading throughout the body or the cancer from returning quickly. In addition, chemotherapy is given to destroy the cancer cells.
Outlook and prognosis
With a lump in the breast, the prognosis is usually positive. In four out of five cases, the growth is benign and, with appropriate treatment, heals without complications. In most cases, moreover, it is not breast cancer, but harmless cysts, mastopathies or a so-called fibroadenoma. This benign tumor is due to tangles in the glandular and connective tissue of the breast and is usually risk-free. However, benign changes in the tissue can increase the risk of breast cancer, which is why medical clarification is necessary in every case. If it is breast cancer, the prognosis depends, among other things, on the stage of the tumor. Size, possible daughter tumors and genetic predispositions also influence the prognosis. Small tumors can be reliably removed in the course of chemotherapy or radiation. If metastases have already formed, the chances of complete recovery are reduced. In principle, however, the chances of survival from breast cancer have increased steadily in recent years. In the case of a lump in the breast, the prospects are accordingly positive, provided that the growth is promptly clarified by a doctor and treated if necessary.
Prevention
A lump in the breast can have various causes, which cannot be prevented in a direct way. However, a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and avoidance of stimulants, as well as regular preventive examinations, can certainly contribute to a minimized risk. If a lump is discovered in the breast, a visit to the doctor should take place in any case to determine the exact causes and to rule out a serious disease of the breast.
What you can do yourself
Nodes in the breast are usually harmless hardening or hormonal tissue changes. However, because there is a risk of malignant tumor, changes in breast tissue should always be clarified by a doctor. In order to detect lumps at an early stage, the breasts should be palpated regularly. The ideal time is three days to one week after the onset of menstruation, as indurations are particularly slight at this time and lumps are easier to detect. Harmless lumps can be treated with the help of painkilling and breast-cooling home remedies.Cool compresses or quark compresses are suitable, as are anti-inflammatory ointments and lotions. Breastfeeding women should take a break from breastfeeding so that the inflammation can subside quickly. Lumps resulting from milk stasis can be treated with herbal teas made from lemon balm, honey clover or lady’s mantle. In addition, measures such as a hot bath, pressure point massages or physiotherapy help to loosen hardening in the breast tissue. A balanced diet and regular exercise can regulate the estrogen levels that are often the cause. Homeopathic painkillers and massages are also recommended. If the lumps persist despite all measures or increase in size or number, a visit to the doctor is recommended.
