Before looking specifically at lumps in the breast, let's recap the anatomy of a women's breast is made of up fat, nipples, between 15 to 20 lobes which contain milk producing glands and ducts which allow the milk to pass out of the gland to the nipple, when lactating.
Breast Lumps
Anytime that a women finds a lump in her breast, she should immediately make an appointment to have it checked by a medical practitioner. According to the Cancer Council Queensland, around 400,000 women preset to a medical practitioner annually with breast changes; in 9 out of 10 cases these will be benign (non-cancerous) lump. However, although the majority of breast lumps are not cancerous, there is a risk (which increases with age and other factors, including family and genetic history, previous breast cancer diagnosis and lifestyle choices including smoking and drinking habits) that the lump may be cancerous.
Fibroadenomas
A fibroadenoma is a benign (non-cancerous) mass of fibrous and glandular tissue within the breast. It is the most common of all benign breast lumps and is the most common breast tumour (benign or cancerous) in women under 30 years of age.
Fibrocystic Breast Changes
Hormonal fluctuations can result in changes to the breast tissue, in particular around the menstrual cycle. Fibrocystic breast changes are common in women in the 30-50 group and less common in women who have undergone menopause. Women taking contraceptives are also less likely to experience fibrocystic breast changes.
Cysts
Cysts are benign fluid filled sacs within the breast tissue; according to the Mayo Clinic, breast cysts may feel soft (like a grape or jelly) or firm. Cysts are common in women in their 30s to 40s.
Breast Cancer
If the lump is cancerous, it may be a ductal carcinoma which is a type of cancer that orginates in the milk ducts of the breast. The milk ducts are a common site for breast cancer. Another type of breast cancer is lobular carcinoma - this refers to cancers which originate in the milk producing sacs or lobes of the breast. Like other types of cancer, breast cancer may spread to other organs and structures within the body.
A lump in the breast may not necessarily mean that a women has breast cancer, there are many benign conditions that present as a lump in the tissue of the breast. However any lump that is found should be thoroughly investigated by a medical practitioner, as the earlier that a breast cancer is detected, the more postive the outcome
