Cancer and breast lumps
Key points
- While a common breast complaint and concern is a newly discovered breast lump, only a small percentage turn out to be cancer.
- In fact, many women have lumpy breasts, or a condition called fibrocystic breast disease that is benign.
- If you have this condition, examining your breasts can be confusing and, at times, alarming.
- It is still very important to check your breasts at the same time each month and bring anything that feels new or different to your doctor's attention.
Alternative names
Breast lumps and cancer
Information
While a common breast complaint and concern is a newly discovered breast lump, only a small percentage turn out to be cancer. In fact, many women have lumpy breasts, or a condition called fibrocystic breast disease that is benign.
If you have this condition, examining your breasts can be confusing and, at times, alarming. It is still very important to check your breasts at the same time each month and bring anything that feels new or different to your doctor's attention. It may be helpful to know that a cancerous lump tends to be hard and unmovable. See breast lump and fibroadenoma.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.