The breast lump is a small lump that, in most cases, is not a sign of breast cancer, and is only a benign change, such as fibroadenoma or a cyst, that usually does not require treatment.
Therefore, breast cancer should only be suspected when the lump has malignant characteristics, such as changes in breast size and shape, or if there is a history of breast cancer in the family, especially in first-degree relatives.
Thus, if a lump is found during breast self-examination, for example, it is important to consult a mastologist and perform tests such as ultrasound or mammography, so the doctor can identify whether the lump is benign or malignant and define the most appropriate treatment.
See when it may be cancer: How to know if the lump in the breast is malignant.
Main benign nodule causes in the breast
The lump in the breast that are not linked to the cancer are called mastopathy and may arise only due to hormonal changes, disappearing after menstruation or arise due to the onset of a cyst or fibrosis of the breast tissue. Some of the most common causes of breast lump include:
1. Fibrocystic changes
Fibrocystic changes are the most common cause of breast lumps and are related to hormonal changes in the woman's body, especially during the menstrual period or when you are being treated with some type of hormonal remedy.
Characteristics of the nodule: usually appears in the week prior to the menstrual period and disappear one week after the end of the period. They may present as painful and hard lumps, appearing in only one breast or both.
2. Simple cysts
Cyst usually occurs in premenopausal women over the age of 40, a non-severe breast disorder that rarely develops cancer and does not require specific treatment.
Nodule characteristics: They are more common in both breasts and may change in size during the menstrual period. In addition, they can also be painful when the woman ingests caffeine through coffee, tea or chocolate, for example. See all the symptoms here.
3. Fibroadenoma
Fibroadenoma is the most frequent type of breast nodule in young women between the ages of 20 and 40 and is caused by the exaggerated growth of milk-producing glands and breast tissue. Learn more at: Fibroadenoma of the breast.
Characteristics of the nodule: they have a rounded shape, are slightly hard and can move freely through the breast, not being fixed in one place. In addition, they usually do not cause any kind of pain.
4. Lipoma
Lipoma results from the accumulation of fatty tissue in the breast and therefore is not serious and can be removed through surgery for aesthetic reasons only.
Nodule characteristics: They are soft, similar to small fat pads, which can move through the breast. However, in some cases lipomas may also be hard, and may be confused with breast cancer.
5. Infections of the breast
Some breast infections such as mastitis during pregnancy, for example, can cause inflammation of the tissues and ducts inside the breast and lead to the appearance of nodules. See the main symptoms of this problem in: Mastitis.
Nodule characteristics: usually cause pain in the breast, especially when pressed, and may lead to redness on the site of the nodule.
6. Diabetic mastopathy
Diabetic mastopathy is a rare and serious type of mastitis, an inflammation in the breast that causes pain, redness and the appearance of one or more lumps in the sinuses, which can be confused with cancer. This disease appears only in people with diabetes who use insulin, mainly affecting women.
Nodule characteristics: Hardened tumors appear that are painless at the onset of the disease, and blisters on the skin and pus may also appear. See more in: Learn how to treat Diabetic Mastopia.
Examinations to identify the type of nodule in the breast
Mammography and ultrasonography are the most commonly used for the diagnosis of the nodule, but the doctor can also use the palpation of the breasts in the consultation.
The result of the mammography is standardized using the BI-RADS classification system and, therefore, the result of the examination can be:
- Category 0: examination failed to characterize changes and further examination is required;
- Category 1: normal result, to be repeated in 1 year;
- Category 2: benign changes, without risk of cancer, and should be repeated in 1 year;
- Category 3: probably benign changes, with cancer risk of 3% and it is recommended to repeat the examination in 6 months;
- Category 4: suspected malignancy changes and the risk of cancer is 20%, requiring a biopsy and anatomopathological evaluation of the breast tissue;
- Category 5: probably malignant alterations with risk of cancer of 95%, being indicated surgery to remove the alteration, being able to be done preoperative biopsy;
- Category 6: diagnosis of established breast cancer.
The nodule in the hypoechogenic or hypoechoic breast is only an expression that appears in the reports of the imaging tests, not indicating the severity or malignancy of the nodule.
Treatment for breast lump
Breast lumps usually do not need any treatment as they do not cause any change in the patient's health and do not increase in size. However, when the nodule is very painful or has a very large size the gynecologist may recommend taking a specific contraceptive pill for the nodule type or aspirating the nodule to relieve the symptoms.
Male breast node in man
The breast lump in the male is usually associated with male breast cancer, but it may also be benign, so if you notice a lump, you should tell your doctor to perform diagnostic tests to identify the origin of the nodule.
Here's how to identify breast lumps early in: How to do breast self-examination.
