What are Breast Lumps

A breast lump is a localized swelling, protuberance, bulge or bump in the breast that feels different from the breast tissue around it or the breast tissue in the same area of the other breast. The majority of breast lumps are not cancerous (benign), and can have various different causes, such as infection, trauma, fibroadenoma, cyst, or fibrocystic condition of the breast. Even so, a woman who detects a breast lump should have it evaluated as soon as possible.

Breast lumps may develop in both males and females, but are much more common in females.

The breast lump may feel as though it has definite borders, or like a general area of thickened tissue. The skin near the lump may become red, distended, or it may dimple. The signs and symptoms that may accompany breast lumps vary can differ considerably.

The female breast - consists of different types of tissue, including milk glands and milk ducts (tubes) that milk goes through. Breast tissue structures can alter in numbers, depending on the requirements at the time.