|  health information  |  health factsheets

Benign breast lumps

Published by Bupa's health information team, September 2006.

This factsheet is for women who have breast lumps or for people who would like information about breast lumps.

Breast lumps are very common and most women will experience one or more at some time in their lives. However, the vast majority (at least nine out of 10) are benign and not cancerous. Benign lumps can be caused by cysts (sacs of fluid which build up in the breast tissue) or fibroadenomas (solid growths made up of fibrous and glandular tissue).

The breasts

The breasts are made up of fat, connective tissue and glandular tissue which contains lobes. The lobes can produce milk if you have a baby. A network of ducts connects the lobes to the nipple.

Under the skin a "tail" of breast tissue extends under your armpit. The armpits also contain a collection of lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) which are part of your lymphatic system.

About breast lumps

There are many causes of breast lumps and your doctor may use one of the terms below to describe the lump.

• Ductal hyperplasia means there is an overgrowth of cells in the breast ducts in an area of the breast.
• Duct ectasia is when the ducts behind the nipple become larger, which is normal, but sometimes they get blocked with fluid, which leads to a discharge (bloody or non-bloody) from the nipple. The lining of the ducts can become ulcerated too, which may cause pain. Inflammation or infection may also develop in the ducts.
• Periductal mastitis describes a condition where the ducts around the nipple become inflamed or infected. The symptoms are similar to duct ectasia and some women can have both.
• Fibrocystic disease (fibroadenosis) means benign changes in the breast. That means there is no suggestion of any cancer in the biopsies, just some extra fibrous tissue or hardening of the breast tissue that feels lumpy.
• Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop within the breast tissue. Often they become larger, tender and painful just before your period.
• Sclerosing adenosis is a condition where extra tissue grows within the breast lobules.
• Fat necrosis is where a firm lump forms in an area of fatty breast tissue that has been damaged. This may be from a bruise or injury to the breast.

The structures of the breast

When to go to your GP

If you notice any change in your breasts that's not normal for you, you should arrange to see your GP as soon as possible. Changes may include:

• a change in size or shape or feel of your breasts (after you have gone through puberty)
• dimpling, puckering or redness of the skin (skin looks like the texture of orange peel)
• a lump, lumpiness or thickening in the breast
• a change in the position of the nipple or if it becomes inverted
• bloodstained discharge from nipple or a change in the skin over the nipple
• swelling or a lump in the armpit

Assessment

Your GP will examine your breasts. He or she may refer you to see a specialist at a hospital or specialist breast clinic.

When you see the specialist, you'll probably be given what is called a 'triple assessment'. Firstly the specialist will first examine your breasts. Secondly, he or she may then advise you to have imaging tests including those listed below. The type of test that you need will depend on the type of breast lump that you have.

• A mammogram is an X-ray picture of your breast. For more information about mammograms, please see the separate BUPA factsheet, Breast awareness and screening.
• Ultrasound, CT (computerised axial tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans can help your doctor create an image of the lump. For more information, please see the separate BUPA factsheets, Ultrasound, CT scan and MRI scan.

Finally, your specialist may then take a sample of the tissue from your breast lump.

• In a needle aspiration, your doctor will use a fine needle to collect a sample of cells from your breast. The sample will be sent to a laboratory for examination.
• In a biopsy, your doctor will surgically remove a suspicious lump or collect a small sample of tissue with a needle. The sample will be sent to a laboratory for examination.

As a further investigation if breast cancer is diagnosed, your doctor may take blood tests.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of your breast lump.

Benign breast lumps do not normally need treatment. However, they may be removed as part of the assessment process.

Sometimes the cause of the breast lump needs to be treated with drug treatments or surgery but this not common. Ask your doctor to explain what treatment is best for you.

Breast awareness

Early detection of breast cancer is vital as it increases the chance of successful treatment. If you notice any changes in your breasts such as how they look or feel, you should see your doctor to get expert advice and assessment in a specialist breast clinic if necessary. For more information on how to be aware of changes in your breasts, please see the separate BUPA factsheet, Breast awareness and screening.

Breast screening

Breast screening (mammography) is an X-ray examination of the breasts. It can show up abnormalities at an early stage, when they are too small for you or your doctor to feel.

The NHS runs a National Breast Screening Programme, where all women aged 50-70 are invited for breast screening every three years. Research shows that the NHS Breast Screening Programme is saves around 1,400 lives every year in England. You can also have breast screening at a private clinic.

However, no test can give you an absolute "all clear" and mammograms may still miss breast cancer. So you should see your doctor at once if you notice any breast changes, even if you have had a clear X-ray result.

Further information

• Cancerbackup
  0808 800 1234
  www.cancerbackup.org.uk
• Breast Cancer Care
  0808 800 6000
  www.breastcancercare.org.uk
• NHS Cancer Screening Programmes
  0114 271 1060
  www.cancerscreening.org.uk

Sources

• Body awareness. Cancer Research UK.
  www.cancerresearchuk.org
  accessed 26 July 2006
• Breast cancer - suspected. UK Department of Health PRODIGY guidance.
  www.prodigy.nhs.uk
  accessed 26 July 2006
• Benign breast conditions. Breast Cancer Care.
  www.breastcancercare.org.uk
  accessed 26 July 2006
• How breast cancer is diagnosed. Cancerbackup.
  www.cancerbackup.org.uk
  accessed July 26 2006
• NHS Breast Screening Programme. NHS.
  www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk
  accessed 26 July 2006
• Screening for Breast Cancer in England: Past and Future, Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening, 2006, NHSBSP Publication no 61.
  www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk

		Feedback on this factsheet Rate this factsheet Have you found the information in this factsheet helpful? Do take a couple of moments to give us your feedback. We’re also currently conducting some research to help us continuously improve our health factsheets. If you live in the UK, we invite you to provide your feedback and telephone contact details. If we contact you to discuss your thoughts, it will be at a convenient time for you. For each completed telephone interview we will donate £2 to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Click here to give us your feedback

		Information you can trust We use expert sources of medical information to research all our health information and it is checked and approved by medical professionals. Find out more about how we produce our health information

email a friend

bupa.com  | website legal notices  |  cookie policy  |  © BUPA 1996-2007  |  accessibility  |  contact us

back to top