You’ve found a breast lump: What’s the next step?

You’ve found a breast lump: What’s the next step?

It’s the one discovery no woman wants to find – a lump in her breast.  As frightening as that can be, don’t panic.  Your first priority is to take care of yourself meaning not only going to see a doctor, but also talking to friends or family who have been through the same thing. Having supportive people around you can make a difficult time easier and less stressful.    

Keep in mind, the vast majority of lumps found by women are not breast cancer – in fact, four out of five breast lumps end up being benign.  Breast tissue has a natural bumpy texture and for some women it is more pronounced than others.  It is also not unusual for lumps to appear that are related to the hormonal changes of a woman’s menstrual cycle and which will go away on their own.   

One way to tell if the lump felt is abnormal or not is to feel for lumps in the opposite breast.  If the lumpiness can be felt throughout the breast tissue and feels like the other breast then it is probably normal breast tissue.  But, if the lump feels harder or different from the rest of the breast, have it checked out by a health care provider. 

If you already have that familiarity with your breasts and how they normally feel, if you do feel something that is different or unfamiliar or your gut feeling is telling you “this is not right,” don’t ignore your instincts.

So, if you’ve made the discovery of a breast lump, here are the steps you need to take:

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider

The first step is to make the call for an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.  Most healthcare providers are good at trying to accommodate you quickly, particularly if you have familial risk factors or, in the case of women over 40, if you have not had your first mammogram screening.

What to expect at a breast exam

Once you have your appointment made and the day arrives to meet with the doctor, be prepared to answer several questions they will ask such as:

·      When did you notice the lump and how long has it been there

·      When was the first day of your last period

·      They will ask about your overall health

·      A list of medications you are on, including any nutritional or herbal supplements

·      How many children you have had, did you breastfeed and if you’re currently pregnant

·      Family history of benign breast changes or breast cancer

Once the doctor has assessed your symptoms and health history, they will perform a breast exam, feeling the lump.  Depending on what they find, they may order a mammogram and an ultrasound image of your breast. 

Once the results of the mammogram and or ultrasound are complete and if the lump appears to be a cyst, then the doctor has the option of either aspirating the cyst or letting the cyst naturally go away on its own. 

If it is suspected the breast lump could be malignant, you will be referred on to an oncologist who will do further testing to verify the diagnosis, determine what stage it is and the course of action to treat it.

Other changes that occur in the breast

Breast lumps are not the only change a woman may notice in her breasts.  Anytime a woman notices any of the following changes in her breasts, she need to see her health care provider as they could be a warning sign of breast cancer:

·      Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast

·      Change in the size or shape of the breast

·      Dimpling or puckering of the skin

·      Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

·      Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast

·      Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

·      New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

Learn more about breast cancer at breastcancer.org.