Breast Lumps In General

The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast.  But 9 out of 10 breast lumps (90%) are benign.  That means they are not cancers. Most benign breast lumps are

• Areas of benign breast change, causing lumpiness that is more obvious just before a period, particularly in women over 35    
• Cysts – sacs of fluid in the breast tissue.  These are quite common    
• Fibroadenoma – a collection of fibrous glandular tissue.  These are more common in younger women

What to look out for

Changes that could be due to a breast cancer are

• A lump or thickening in an area of the breast  
• A change in the size or shape of a breast    
• Dimpling of the skin    
• A change in the shape of your nipple, particularly if it turns in, sinks into the breast or becomes irregular in shape    
• A blood-stained discharge from the nipple    
• A rash on a nipple or surrounding area    
• A swelling or lump in your armpit

Like breast lumps, these signs don’t necessarily mean cancer.  Inverted nipples, blood stained nipple discharge or a rash can all be due to other medical conditions.  But if any of these things happen to you, you should get it checked out.  It may be nothing and seeing the GP will put your mind at rest.  It may be a benign condition that can easily be treated.  Or at the very worst, if you have a cancer you give yourself the best chance of successful treatment by going to the doctor early on.

There is a rare type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer which can have different symptoms.  The whole breast can look red and inflamed and can be very sore.  The breast may feel hard.  The skin sometimes looks like orange peel because the pores stand out in the inflamed area.

Another rare type of breast cancer shows up as a rash on and around the nipple.  It is called Paget’s disease.  The red, scaly rash can be itchy.  It looks a bit like eczema and is sometimes mistaken for that at first. 

If you spot a lump

See your doctor straight away.  If you notice anything unusual about your breast, have it examined.  Even though most breast lumps are benign, they need to be checked to rule out cancer. 

Your doctor will examine you and if necessary, send you to a specialist breast clinic for further checks.  At the clinic, they will be able to see on your mammogram or ultrasound if the lump is a fluid-filled cyst or a solid lump. 

If it is a cyst, they may get rid of it by draining the fluid out through a fine needle.  If it is a solid lump, they will stick a very fine needle into it and take a tissue sample to test for cancer cells. 

Some women prefer to have benign lumps removed to relieve their worry.  They may be concerned that they will confuse them with any other lumps they may get in the future.  But if you and your doctor are confident that the lump is benign, you do not have to have it removed if you do not want to.  Benign lumps don’t turn into cancer.

If your lump is a cancer, the earlier you have breast cancer treatment, the better your chance of cure.

Breast pain

Pain doesn’t usually mean cancer.  Many healthy women find that their breasts feel lumpy and tender before a period.  And some benign breast lumps are painful.  Many women get pain in their breasts for a while, which goes after a time.  There may be no obvious reason for the pain, even with lots of tests.  Most breast pain is not caused by cancer, but some breast cancers do cause pain, so if you are worried, see your GP.

What causes breast cancer?

• Women with a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer have an 80% higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer themselves.
• Risk increases with the number of first-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer, but even so, eight out of nine breast cancers occur in women without a family history of breast cancer.
• Obesity increases risk of postmenopausal breast cancer by up to 30%.
• The risk of breast cancer in current users of oral contraceptives is increased by around a quarter.
• Excessive drinking increases risk of breast cancer by more than 7%.
• An inactive lifestyle increases the risk of contacting.
• Have first child after 30 yrs old or have no children at all. (Biggest factor for recent rise of breast cancer)

Possible Prevention

• Do a monthly self-examination
• Go for Mammogram every yr or once in 2 yrs (esp for those above 40 yrs old. A Mammogram cost around $50 if done at X-ray centers in Polyclinics).
• Exercise regularly, have a balanced diet and breast-feed your babies can reduce your risk.