A breast self-exam is when you check your breasts, by sight and touch, for any changes, such as a new lump. And many professionals will agree that becoming familiar with the normal look and feel of your breast is a great way to become aware of any changes for early concern or cancer detection.
Today, we will look at breast lumps, how they feel, the different types and how to check for breast lumps called breast self-examination.
What is a breast tumor?
A breast lump is a localized swelling, lump or mass in the breast that feels different from the surrounding breast tissue and can vary in sizetexture and tenderness.
And while it can be downright discouraging, it’s important to remember that the majority of breast lumps are not breast cancer. In fact, there are many conditions that can cause benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps. On the other hand, the absence of a noticeable breast lump does not mean that breast cancer cannot or has not developed.
This is why it is important for women to have monthly self-exams from the age of 18 and for women over 40 to go for an annual mammogram.
What does a breast lump feel like?
A breast lump can feel different depending on its cause. It can be found in or around breast tissue or in the armpit area and can vary in size from a pea to larger than a golf ball. Some common senses and textures include:
Hard or Tough
- This may feel like a solid mass inside the breast
- Cancerous lumps are often hard and irregular
- Benign lumps may also feel firm
Smooth and mobile
- Often round or oval
- It can move slightly under your fingers
- It is often common with fibroadenomas (non-cancerous growths)
Soft or full of liquid
- It may feel squishy or like a small water balloon
- Often tender before menses
- Often with breast cysts
Tender or painful
Fixed in place
- A lump that doesn’t move easily
The different types of breast tumors
For clarity, we’ll split it into two sections. benign and malignant. Benign means non-cancerous and malignant means cancerous.
Benign Breast Lumps
- Fibroadenoma: occurs mainly in women in their 20s and 30s, the lump can feel elastic and move freely, is often painless, varies in size and can form anywhere in the breast tissue.
- Fibrocystic breasts: can occur in women with dense breasts, occurs naturally due to hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, they may feel lumps, swelling and pain before the period.
- Breast cyst: a fluid-filled sac inside the breast that is round or oval and may feel soft or firm. They are smooth, mobile, may be tender, and may change in size during menstruation.
- Fat necrosis: scar tissue from injured breast fat that can occur after trauma, surgery, or radiation. It is a firm, round lump that sometimes dimples and can mimic cancer on imaging.
- Grease: a slow-growing, fatty mass made up of fat cells that are soft, painless and move easily under the skin.
- Breast abscess: an infection (a pocket of pus due to a bacterial infection) that causes a painful lump, and is often associated with breastfeeding. Symptoms include redness, swelling and fever.
- Intraductal papilloma: a small wart-like growth inside the breast, near the nipplewhich can lead to nipple discharge.
Malignant Breast Lumps
Cancerous breast lumps are caused by abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells in the breast tissue. Unlike benign lumps, they can invade surrounding tissue and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC): the most common type breast cancer which starts in the milk ducts and spreads to the surrounding breast tissue. Symptoms may include a hard, irregular lump, dimpling of the skin and inversion of the nipple.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): the second most common type of breast cancer that starts in the milk-producing lobes and spreads to nearby tissues. Symptoms may include thickening instead of a distinct lump, fullness or swelling, and subtle changes in the shape of the breast.
Poropharyngeal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Stage 0 breast cancer which is abnormal cells confined to the milk ducts that have not invaded the surrounding tissue. Symptoms may include discharge from the nipple, but often there is no lump.
Inflammatory breast cancer: a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer in which cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. Symptoms may include red, swollen breasts, warmth, skin that looks like an orange peel, and often without the presence of a distinct lump.
Triple negative breast cancer: hormone receptor negative cancer, which is when there is a lack of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 protein.
HER2-positive breast cancer: when there are high levels of HER2 protein, promoting rapid growth.
Paget’s disease of the breast: a rare form of breast cancer that affects the areola and often the areola. Symptoms may include red, flaky nipple skin, burning or itching, and a possible underlying lump.
How to check for breast lumps at home
A simple, step-by-step guide on how to do a breast self-examination (BSE)…
1. Stand in front of a mirror
Stand naked from the waist up in front of a mirror with your arms relaxed. Check your breasts for changes in size or shape, swelling, dimpling of the skin (like an orange peel), redness or rash, nipple inversion, or unusual discharge. Then raise your arms overhead and repeat. Then place your hands on your hips with firm pressure and repeat again.
2. Lie down
Lie down and place a pillow under your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head. Use the pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand and choose a pattern:
Circular: small circles from the outer breast to the nipple
Vertical lines: top and bottom strips
Wedge pattern: from the outer breast to the nipple and backwards outwards
Use three types of pressure: light for just below the skin, moderate for the mid tissue, and firm for the deep tissue near the sides.
Cover the entire breast, armpit area, collarbone area and up to the bra line.
Repeat on the other side.
When should you do a breast self-exam?
If you have a period, 3-5 days after your period ends
If you don’t have a period, choose the same day each month
If you are pregnantbreastfeeding or postmenopausalchoose a fixed monthly date
With this information, it’s clear that knowing your breasts well is a great way to spot any changes or abnormalities early, should they occur. Taking the time to do a monthly breast self-exam is therefore important and could just save your life.
