What Should You Do If You Find Lumps In Your Breast?
So, you’re doing your regular breast exam at home, and you suddenly feel a lump. What should you do?
In most cases, women who feel a lump in their breasts will start to worry and have several questions in mind. If you’re one of those who recently felt a lump in their breasts, here are a few things you need to know.
How does a breast lump feel?
A breast lump feels more solid than regular breast tissue. It varies in size; some are pea-sized, while others can be as big as a golf ball. It can be difficult to differentiate a breast lump from a normal breast tissue because they both feel spongy and lumpy.
Lumps may or may not be moveable, while normal breast tissue feels like fibrous mesh. Breast lumps are usually painless, but they may also be painful.
When should you worry?
Breast lumps are scary, even though some say it’s pretty common. You’ve probably heard some people say that most breast lumps are noncancerous. But some may indicate breast cancer. So when should you worry? When should you consult your doctor?
Keep in mind that breast lumps need to be checked by a doctor, whether or not it’s painful. You must have it checked by your doctor regardless of your age and where the lump is located.
You can’t determine on your own if the lump you’re feeling is benign or cancerous just by feeling it. Most lumps are harmless. But lumps may also indicate breast cancer.
So how would you know if the lump is concerning? Here are a few things you need to watch out for.
- Skin over the lump changes
- Bloody discharge on the nipples
- Enlargement of the nipples
- Family history of breast cancer
What should you do?
When you feel that you have a breast lump, you should schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor.
Be prepared to answer questions. The most common ones that your doctor will ask are the following:
- How big is the breast lump?
- Is the lump attached to your skin?
- Does the lump move and slip under your fingers when you touch it?
- Is the lump painful or painless?
- Does the lump come with inflamed, itchy, or red skin?
- Did the lump cause a nipple discharge or nipple inversion?
- Is the size of the lump changing?
- Is the lump more painful when you have your period?
- Do you have lumps in both breasts?
Your doctor may or may not recommend you to undergo more tests so they can better evaluate the mass. These tests may include a biopsy or a mammogram.
As previously mentioned, a doctor should check any lump, regardless of age. You shouldn’t think twice about having yourself checked, especially if you’re at least 50. However, that doesn’t mean young women should take breast lumps lightly.
Although many lumps end up being benign, some are still not. You don’t want to miss out on getting yourself checked. It’s better to catch breast cancer early because it’ll most likely be treatable.
Don’t worry about the painful biopsy. Other ways, such as breast ultrasounds and mammograms, help your doctor evaluate your condition.
It’s never too late to take care of your body, including your breasts. Keeping your breasts healthy goes beyond self-examination and regular mammograms. You should also exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and reduce stress. Avoid eating processed food and consume more fruits and vegetables. You should also stop smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
