One of the most common women’s health issues that plague women are breast lumps. Finding a lump can be traumatizing. A lot of women feel that their breasts are what make them a beautiful woman and can’t bear the thought of losing their breast(s) should the lump turn out to be the sign of something life threatening.
There are several causes of breast lumps. Some of these causes are nothing to be concerned about, while others can be painful and/or dangerous.
One common cause of a breast lump is infection. An infections of the breast are known as mastitis and is particularly common in women who are breastfeeding. When the skin of the nipple (areola) is injured or cracked, such as is common with nursing, bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections. In a breastfeeding woman, a hard area commonly thought of a clogged milk duct will form. Sometimes, certain treatments can prevent the painful, hard area from developing into an actual breast infection (mastitis). Infections can either be a deep pocket of pus, in which the infection looks like it is growing down into the breast (an abscess), or a wider area of skin redness that spreads out (cellulitis). Body piercing in the nipple area increases the risk of breast infections that may be particularly difficult to treat.
Another cause of breast lumps is injury. If a breast is injured by trauma, tiny blood vessels can rupture to cause an area of localized bleeding (hematoma) that can be felt as a lump. Trauma to the breast can damage the fat cells in the breast tissue, a condition called fat necrosis which can also form a lump in the breast.
Third, there are non-cancerous growths such as Fibroadenomas or cysts. Fibroadenomas growths most commonly occur in women 30 to 35 years old. They are solid, firm tumors that are usually painless or only slightly tender. They sometimes grow quickly in teenagers or during pregnancy. Breast cysts are fluid-filled, tiny sacs within the breast tissue and are benign. They are very common, particularly over the age of 35. These cysts often vary in size during the menstrual cycle and may be tender.
Last, the most dreaded cause- cancer. Breast cancer usually causes no pain in the breast. Although women often worry about breast pain, most women with breast pain do not have breast cancer. Only about 6% of women with breast cancer have breast pain as their first sign of cancer.
Nipple discharge that occurs without the nipple being touched can be caused by benign (non-cancerous) growths. Examples of these growths are intraductal papillomas (non-cancerous growths that protrude into the milk ducts) and dilated areas of milk ducts (ductal ectasia). Nipple discharge can also be caused by cancer of the breast tissue. Because nipple discharge can be a sign of cancer, it needs to be evaluated by a doctor.
Skin changes on the breast, including redness and warmth, can sometimes be a sign of breast cancer. A form of breast cancer that commonly causes these signs of inflammation is Paget’s disease of the breast. Most inflammation or rashes on the breast are not due to cancer. They may be caused by benign problems such as nipple eczema or a fungus infection. Still, any breast rashes should be evaluated by a doctor. Areas that are especially scaly and red, particularly if they are persistent, or if there is also nipple discharge, are often sampled (biopsied) to rule out cancer.
In conclusion, women’s health issues such as breast lumps are not to be taken lightly. Should you find a lump in your breast, it is best to seek medical attention immediately to rule out the possibility of it being the sign of something life threatening like cancer.
