Breast Lump
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Lump in the breast
Lump in the nipple
About the Symptom
A breast lump is a mass that develops in the breast. Any new breast lump should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible. A breast lump can feel like a rock in the breast or a sponge in the breast or anything in between. It can feel smooth or lumpy or grainy and be movable or not movable. Most breast lumps will turn out to be benign (not cancer). The decision to biopsy the lump is dependent on many factors, but usually some sort of X-ray or Ultrasound will be used to evaluate the lump.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Erythema
- Headache
- Fever
- Recent weight loss
- Swelling of the affected area
Possible Causes
Generally, Breast lump can be related to:
- Mastopathy
A condition where a painful lump forms in the breast due to imbalances in female hormone levels, causing symptoms to occur before and during menstruation.
- Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a malignancy that arises in the breasts of men or women. It can arise from ducts or lobules. Patients either find a lump or have an abnormal mammogram. Risk factors include being female, having breasts, have a genetic predisposition (eg a gene you inherit from a parent), family history of breast or ovarian cancer, getting older, personal history of breast biopsies, dense breasts on mammography, or ovarian cancer, alcohol, and obesity. Protective factors include pregnancy, especially at a younger age, weight maintenance especially after menopause, and exercise.
- Gynecomastia
A condition in which abnormal hormone levels cause males to develop female characteristics, such as breast enlargement. Common causes include medications and brain tumors.
- Mastitis
- Mondor's Disease
- Epidermoid Cyst
- Traumatic Fat Necrosis
- Skin Metastasis of Malignant Tumor
- Testicular Tumor
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Have you noticed any lumps in your breasts?
- When did you first notice the breast lumps?
- How are your breast lumps now?
- How often do you experience breast lumps?
Reviewed By:
Alice Police, MD (Breast Surgery)
Breast Surgeon of 30 years experience. Recent Chief of breast surgery at UCIrvine Medical Center, Northwell Health in New York State, Chief of breast surgery at Monument Health in Rapid City South Dakota. Breast Cancer Researcher in conjunction with multiple studies through Notre Dame department of electrical engineering. CMO of Nearwave, a start up breast cancer device company.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Try Free Symptom QuizHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Breast Lump quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- There is a bump on the breast
- Hard object in the breast
- A lump in my breast
- Bump in the nipple
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FAQs
Q.
Saggy Breasts at 30-45: Health Causes & Your Action Plan
A.
Saggy breasts between 30 and 45 are common and usually normal, most often due to aging-related skin changes, pregnancy and weight fluctuations, genetics, breast size, smoking, and hormone shifts; sagging itself is not dangerous. There are several factors to consider. See below for a practical action plan on proper bra support, posture and chest-strength exercises, skin protection and nutrition, weight stability, routine screening, and exactly when new lumps, skin or nipple changes, pain, or rapid asymmetry mean you should see a clinician, plus realistic cosmetic options that could affect your next steps.
References:
* Dinh, T., & Veitch, D. (2017). The Aging Breast. *Journal of Clinical & Cosmetic Dermatology*, *4*(2).
* Campanholi, F. A., do Vale, H. F. H. V., da Costa, J. P. A., Soares, L. D., da Silva, A. M. L., de Matos, F. L., da Cunha, I. C. L., de Oliveira, J. B., de Medeiros, G. M. D., Cazarim, M. C. G., de Aguiar, R. M. P. F., de Carvalho, S. C. V., Soares, L. F., & Cagnacci, D. (2020). Risk factors for breast ptosis: a systematic review. *Archives of Breast Cancer*, *7*(1), 1–6.
* Rinker, B., & Howard, P. (2012). The relationship between breast ptosis and mammographic density. *Aesthetic Plastic Surgery*, *36*(3), 643–646.
* Stellavato, A., Pirozzi, A., d'Apuzzo, F., d'Agostino, A., Paoletti, I., & Schiraldi, C. (2021). The effects of topical administration of a new pool of glycosaminoglycans on signs of skin aging. *Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology*, *20*(11), 3500–3510.
* Locke, J. E., Lye, K., & Kim, Y. (2017). The effect of smoking on dermal elasticity in the breast. *Aesthetic Plastic Surgery*, *41*(5), 1188–1193.
Q.
That Dull Ache in Your Left Armpit: Is It Your Deodorant, Your Cycle, or Your Heart?
A.
The most common causes are irritated lymph nodes, breast tissue changes linked to your cycle, muscle strain, or skin reactions from deodorant or shaving; heart causes are less likely unless symptoms also include chest pressure, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or pain spreading to the jaw, neck, or arm. There are several factors to consider. See below for the key red flags, self-care steps, and when to contact a clinician or seek urgent care, which could change your next steps.
References:
* Vrdoljak T, Vuković P, Bilić M, Lugović-Mihić L. Contact Dermatitis in the Axilla: A Clinical Review. Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2018 Dec;26(4):313-317. PMID: 30601007.
* Sarma P, Sharma R, Sharma R, Goel S. Mastalgia: A Comprehensive Review. Clin Breast Cancer. 2018 Dec;18(6):e1151-e1158. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2018.06.002. Epub 2018 Jun 21. PMID: 30049755.
* Jeganathan V, Gurevich I, Gurevich M, Lim S. Atypical presentation of acute myocardial infarction. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2021 Jul 1;36(4):453-458. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000853. PMID: 33909774.
* Davies EL, Gateley CA, Mather M. Breast pain (mastalgia): causes and evaluation. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2016 Oct;36:127-37. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2016.08.001. Epub 2016 Aug 5. PMID: 27546252.
* Londero V, Marzuoli L, Bazzocchi M, Londero AP, Zuiani C. Differential Diagnosis of Axillary Lymphadenopathy. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2017 Aug;38(4):301-314. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2017.03.003. Epub 2017 Mar 21. PMID: 28629631.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Perry MC. Breast Lump. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd ed. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 170. PMID: 21250122.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279/Breast lumps - NHS UK
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-lump/