The formation of lumps or cysts in the breast need not necessarily imply that you have got cancer. Lumps in the breast may be caused due to local injuries or infections caused due to injury to the skin around the nipples in women who breastfeed their babies. Sometimes, a milk duct could also get clogged in a lactating mother and cause a small lump to form inside the breast.


Non-malignant growth of cells inside the breast is also a common phenomenon that causes lumps to form. These non-cancerous lumps are technically known as fibroadenomas and are mostly firm, solid and painless. They mostly occur in women in their mid-thirties but sometimes also during pregnancy.


Other kinds of cysts in the breasts may be soft and round or oval in shape. On being touched, the area around the cyst feels tender and the lump itself is moveable. Most commonly, these lumps become more prominent just before the menstrual period and recede somewhat after the period. It is also fairly common to have more than one lump in the breasts. A good number of women experience this during their childbearing years but only a few develop breast cancer.

However, if you observe that there is a change in the shape or size of either or both the breasts, accompanied with inflammation around and discharge from the nipples, then you should contact your doctor immediately. Some cysts are so small that they cannot be felt externally by means of touch so it is always a good idea to get a medical examination of your breasts done at regular intervals. The exact cause for the formation of lumps in the breasts is not known, but it is believed that the female hormone estrogen plays a crucial role in this. It is only after a biopsy and tests like mammogram, ultrasound or MRI have been conducted that it can be definitively said whether a lump in the breast is cancerous or not. The incidence of breast cancer has been found to be higher in menopausal women and in those who have had a family history of this problem or have been previously subjected to radiation therapy around the chest region. Though there are no foolproof means of preventing breast cancer, you should restrict your intake of caffeinated products as well as avoid consuming too much salt in food. Evening primrose oil is also popularly believed to prevent and treat breast cysts naturally.

Lumps in the breast are growths of tissue that develop inside the breast. These lumps in the breast can also be described as growths, a swelling, fullness, thickness or mass. Breast lumps in women can be noticed at all ages. A swelling or a painful lump could appear and then go, as breast tissue also responds to hormonal changes taking place within the body. Breast lumps in adult women and breast lumps in young women may be a sign of cancer. However, it is important to remember that all lumps in the breast do not actually point out to cancer. Nonetheless, it is essential to contact your medical practitioner if you do experience pain arising out of the lump in your breast. Do see your doctor if you have lumps in the breast and any of the following symptoms:-

• You have bloody and spontaneous discharge from your nipple.

• The breast lump feels different from the surrounding tissue in that breast or your other breast.

• There are other skin changes on your breast. For instance, dimpling, puckering, crusting or redness.

• The lumps in the breast do not go away after the next menstrual period and even gets bigger after the period.

• Your nipple is inverted (inward) although this is not normally the case.

• The lumps change – they grow firmer, bigger and more defined from the breast tissue that surrounds them.

There are many causes for lumps in the breast. Some of these are:-

• Cysts: If you notice a small grape like lump, it could be a cyst. Cysts refer to small sacs filled with some fluid which can appear before your period. A lump in the breast just before a period and causing pain in the area could indicate that it is a cyst. The cyst will most probably be drained. The fluid, if green or clear means that further investigation is required. Bloody fluid will be sent for biopsy and to check for cancerous cells. If such a lump comes up again or does not disappear completely, it will have to be removed surgically.

• Intraductal Papilloma: This is a condition where the milk duct in the breasts has something small growing within it. This would usually happen near the areola and is generally found in women between the ages of 35-55. This kind of lump is not painful and is not even felt in many cases. Some women may experience a pink watery discharge from their nipple. Do inform your doctor of this discharge as a bloody discharge could be a symptom of cancer.

• Fibrocystic Changes: Fibrocystic breast lumps are usually benign. For some women, fluctuations in hormones during a normal menstrual cycle can make changes in the breasts. These changes are known as fibrocystic changes. Fibrocystic changes are noticed in women who are in their reproductive years. Symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease include swollen and tender breasts, and one or more lumps. As with all breast lumps, do inform your doctor about these lumps in the breast as well.

• Breast Cancer: Any tender breast lump or a painful breast lump can also be a sign of breast cancer. On palpitation, lumpy nodes can be felt. This lump could be painless as well. Tenderness and soreness are two other symptoms. This type of cancer could be confirmed by an ultrasound or mammography and also a biopsy. 

• Milk cysts: Mastitis is a breast inflammation caused by an infection. A lump in the breast that hurts could be due to this. 

Treatment of the breast lumps depends on the underlying cause. In the case of breast cancer, surgery along with chemotherapy or radiation might be an option. Breast lump removal could also entail a mastectomy where a complete or partial part of the breast might be removed.