A new lump in the breast or armpit Thickening or swelling of part of the breast. Irritation or dimple formation on the skin of the breasts Redness or scaly skin in the nipple area or on the breast. It's alarming to feel a lump in your breast. Should you have it checked or wait? Is it something or is it just not a big deal? The way that lump feels can provide a lot of information.
Following recommended breast cancer screening guidelines is the most important thing you can do to ensure early detection of breast cancer. It's common to have tumors that are 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter when a woman can feel them on a self-exam. You should visit your doctor if you see or feel anything new or unusual in your breasts during a self-exam. This means that it's also important that you know what your breasts normally look and feel like, so you're aware of any breast changes.
The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment. Although it's important to get screened for breast cancer regularly, mammograms don't screen for all types of breast cancer. Merrigan said that more imaging may be needed, such as spectral contrast mammography (CESM), breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Breast cancer lumps are often found in the upper outer quadrant of the breast in women and near the nipple in men.
A hard, painless mass with irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can also be soft, round, tender, or even painful. The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass (although most breast lumps are not cancerous). This means you have cancer in the cells that line the ducts, but it hasn't spread to nearby tissue. It may be in the same breast (local), in the lymph nodes close to the original cancer (regional), or in a part of the body that is further away (metastatic or distant).
You can help reduce your risk of cancer by making healthy choices, such as eating well, staying active, and not smoking. The doctor will likely perform a thorough breast exam and also check nearby areas, such as the collarbone, neck, and armpits.
