The Average Age In Which Breast Cancer Is Detected As A Lump Is About 61
Women between the ages of 25 and 44 tend to present these kinds of breast symptoms to their GP most commonly, and also women over the age of 65.
Again, the rate of actual breast cancers following GP visits for these common presenting breast symptoms is only about 3%.
For women under 45, these types of symptoms are even less likely to be related to breast cancer. The average age in which a woman presents to her GP with a lump, has actual breast cancer is about 61.
Pagets Disease Of The Breast
This is a rare skin condition that is sometimes a sign of an underlying breast cancer. The symptoms are a red, scaly rash on the nipple and surrounding area. This can be itchy and looks a bit like eczema. It is sometimes mistaken for eczema at first.
See your doctor if you have any changes in the skin of your breast.
Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms
Unlike other breast cancers, inflammatory breast cancer rarely causes breast lumps and may not appear on a mammogram. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms include:
- Red, swollen, itchy breast that is tender to the touch
- The surface of the breast may take on a ridged or pitted appearance, similar to an orange peel
- Heaviness, burning, or aching in one breast
- One breast is visibly larger than the other
- Inverted nipple
- No mass is felt with a breast self-exam
- Swollen lymph nodes under the arm and/or above the collarbone
- Symptoms unresolved after a course of antibiotics
Unlike other breast cancers, inflammatory breast cancer usually does not cause a distinct lump in the breast. Therefore, a breast self-exam, clinical breast exam, or even a mammogram may not detect inflammatory breast cancer. Ultrasounds may also miss inflammatory breast cancer. However, the changes to the surface of the breast caused by inflammatory breast cancer can be seen with the naked eye.
Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer can develop rapidly, and the disease can progress quickly. Any sudden changes in the texture or appearance of the breast should be reported to your doctor immediately.
For women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, redness, swelling, itchiness and soreness are often signs of a breast infection such as mastitis, which is treatable with antibiotics. If you are not pregnant or nursing and you develop these symptoms, your doctor should test for inflammatory breast cancer.
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What Can I Expect If I Have Breast Cancer
If youve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your healthcare provider will talk with you in detail about your treatment options. Treatment and recovery will be different for everyone, so they can tell you what to expect in your situation.
Is breast cancer fatal?
People with early-stage breast cancer often manage their condition successfully with treatment. In fact, many people whove received a breast cancer diagnosis go on to live long, fulfilling lives. Late-stage breast cancer is more difficult to treat, however, and can be fatal.
What is the survival rate for breast cancer?
The overall five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 90%. This means that 90% of people diagnosed with the disease are still alive five years later. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer that has spread to nearby areas is 86%, while the five-year survival rate for metastatic breast cancer is 28%. Fortunately, the survival rates for breast cancer are improving as we learn more about the disease and develop new and better approaches to management.
Keep in mind that survival rates are only estimates. They cant predict the success of treatment or tell you how long youll live. If you have specific questions about breast cancer survival rates, talk to your healthcare provider.
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Ductal Or Lobular Hyperplasia
Atypical lobular hyperplasia and atypical ductal hyperplasia are considered precancerous conditions. Atypical describes cells that look abnormal under a microscope, while hyperplasia describes an overgrowth of cells.
Breast tumors that have these characteristics are more likely to turn into cancer therefore, close monitoring or surgical excision is required to treat these conditions.
Do Cysts Lead To Cancer
Nearly all simple cysts are just that simple. They are almost never associated with a higher risk of cancer. The only possible exception in which a cyst might indicate a slightly elevated risk for cancer is when other risk factors for cancer, such as a strong family history, are already present, or when further examination of imaging studies reveals some debris inside or along the edge or margin of it.
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Change In Size Shape Or Feel Of Your Breast
A cancer might cause your breast to look bigger or have a different shape than usual, it might feel different.
Many healthy women find that their breasts feel lumpy and tender just before their period.
It can help to be breast aware. This means getting to know the size, shape and feel of your breasts.
What If My Breasts Are Always Lumpy
Fibrocystic breast tissue is a very common condition and means that you have denser breast tissue and may notice lumps and bumps that are common to the feel of your breasts. It is important for women with fibrocystic breast tissue to be diligent about performing breast self-exams so they are familiar with what is normal for their breasts and so they can report any changes.
Most premenopausal women have fibrocystic breast tissue. While performing your regular breast self-exam, make note of any lumps or bumps you identify and consult with your doctor. Consider your fibrocystic lumps to be your normal findings and determine through self-exam if something new is felt.
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About Inflammatory Breast Cancer
You can have breast cancer without having a lump. Inflammatory breast cancer, for example, may not cause a lump or appear on a mammogram. Signs of inflammatory breast cancer include:
- one breast is swollen and has gotten larger than the other
- itchiness, tenderness, pain
When you visit a doctor for a breast lump, be prepared to provide information such as:
- when you first noticed the lump
- whether it has shrunk or grown
- personal and family history of cancer
When To Worry About Breast Lumps
What is benignbreast disease? If you feel a lump in your breast, your first thought may be that you have breastcancer. Fortunately, a majority of breastlumps are benign, meaning theyre not cancerous. Both women and men can develop benign breastlumps. This condition is known as benignbreast disease.
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What Is The Typical Size And Texture Of A Breast Cancer Lump
In the early stages, most breast cancer lumps are too small to be detected by touch. In some cases, its possible to feel a breast cancer lump when its about a half-inch in diameter. But the ability to feel a lump can depend a great deal on where in the breast its located, the size of a womans breast, the density of her breast tissue and other factors. Generally, breast cancer lumps tend to feel hard, firm and solid, and they have irregular edges. However, its important to remember that some breast cancer lumps can be soft and smooth to the touch, so you should consult with your doctor whenever you feel a lump in your breast or armpit.
What Is A Normal Breast
No breast is typical. What is normal for you may not be normal for another woman. Most women say their breasts feel lumpy or uneven. The way your breasts look and feel can be affected by getting your period, having children, losing or gaining weight, and taking certain medications. Breasts also tend to change as you age. For more information, see the National Cancer Institutes Breast Changes and Conditions.
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Checking Your Breast For Lumps
Breast cancer is considered a leading cause of death in women and has been referred to as a modern epidemic. Roughly 1 in 8 women in America will be affected by breast cancer at some point.
Self-examination for breast cancer lumps is helpful in detecting, early on, any changes that could be breast cancer. However, self-examination should not be used as a replacement for regular screening tests for breast cancer.
What Is Fat Necrosis
Fat necrosis is a condition in which painless, round, firm lumps caused by damaged and disintegrating fatty tissues form in the breast tissue. Fat necrosis often occurs in women with very large breasts or who have had a bruise or blow to the breast. This condition may also be the result of a lumpectomy and radiation from a prior cancerous lump. In some cases, healthcare providers will watch the lump through several menstrual cycles. He or she may want to do a mammogram before deciding whether to remove it. These lumps are not cancerous and they do not increase your risk of cancer.
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Tests Used To Diagnose Breast Cancer
Your doctor will likely do a physical exam and may suggest some other diagnostic tests, if they cant determine what the lump is from touch alone. Sometimes a biopsy is needed, along with certain imaging tests to make an accurate diagnosis. These are some of the most common tests used to determine whether a lump may be cancerous:
- Breast biopsy: Biopsies are performed in several ways: taking a sample of breast tissueor surgically removing the breast lump itself and testing it in a lab under a microscope. The type of biopsy recommended may depend on how concerned your doctor is about your cancer risk.
- Mammogram: A mammogram uses X-ray images of the breast from different angles to see more details of the lump.
- Breast ultrasound: This type of imaging uses sound waves to tell if the lump is solid or fluid-filled. Tumors are solid, whereas breast cysts are a type of fluid-filled mass.
- Breast MRI: An MRI test produces an image with radio waves and a magnet that is often used when more information is needed to make a diagnosis.
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What Will Happen At My Appointment
The doctor will ask questions about your health history. Theyâll perform a breast exam to feel for lumps or other changes in the breast tissue and under your arms.
If thereâs fluid coming out of your nipple, the doctor may order blood tests to check hormone levels and collect a sample to check for abnormal cells.
They may also do a mammogram or ultrasound to see if the lump is solid or filled with fluid.
Your doctor may order a test called a biopsy. Theyâll take a tiny sample of the lump with a needle or small cut and send it to a lab.
What Is A Lump In The Breast
Sometimes, a lump in the breast is a symptom of breast cancer. While not all lumps are cancerous, a person should have a doctor check any new lumps that appear in the breast or armpit. of breast cancer a person should look out for are nipple discharge, dimpling skin, and breast swelling or thickening. Read on to learn more about different types of
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Can You Have Breast Cancer Without A Lump
Yes. Not only are many breast cancer lumps undetectable to the touch, but theres a type of malignancy called inflammatory breast cancer that often causes no tumor at all. The symptoms result from cancer cells blocking lymph vessels in the skin, a condition that leads to breast inflammation and symptoms such as redness and swelling. Fortunately, IBC is a rare form of breast cancer, accounting for only 1% to 5% of all breast cancers.
Which Breast Lumps Should Women Worry About
Breast lumps are frightening, but fairly common. And while you already know that a lump could potentially signal breast cancer, you’ve probably also heard that most lumps are noncancerous, or benign.
So how can you tell if a breast lump needs to be checked out by a doctor?
“All breast lumps need to be evaluated by a physician, regardless of your age or where in your breast you feel the lump,” says Dr. Joshi. “More often than not, breast lumps are harmless. But, any lump could potentially be breast cancer, and it’s impossible for a woman to determine whether her lump is cancerous or benign just by feeling it.”
That being said, Dr. Joshi says that there are some features that make a lump particularly concerning, including:
- Changes in the skin over the lump
- Nipple changes, including enlargement or bloody discharge
- Changes in the size of the lump
“Additionally, having a family history of breast cancer makes it more likely that a lump could be cancerous,” warns Dr. Joshi.
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What Does A Movable Lump Feel Like
Feels like: A soft, movable bump just under your skin thats not painful when touched. Could be: A lipoma, a benign tumor in the fat cells under the skin. Lipomas can pop up anywhere on the body, but theyre seen most commonly on the torso and neck.
Are breast cysts movable?
Breast cysts may be found in one or both breasts. Signs and symptoms of a breast cyst include: A smooth, easily movable round or oval lump that may have smooth edges which typically, though not always, indicates its benign.
Does A Breast Cyst Increase My Risk Of Breast Cancer
You may feel anxious about having a breast cyst or cysts. Even though you may be relieved that its a benign condition, you may still worry about breast cancer.
Having a breast cyst or cysts does not increase your risk of developing breast cancer in the future. However, its still important to be breast aware and go back to your GP if you notice any changes in your breasts, regardless of how soon these occur after your cyst or cysts were diagnosed.
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Factors To Consider If You Notice A Lump In Breast Tissue
Theres a lot of misunderstanding and anxiety about performing a breast self-exam. People don’t really know what theyre looking for, and theyre afraid theyll find something that will make them panic, Dr. Comander says. She describes several important characteristics to consider about your breast tissue.
What A Breast Cancer Lump Feels Like
Breast cancer lumps are typically easy to identify because they feel vastly different from the rest of the breast. The lump will be firm, hard, and feel as though it is attached to skin or tissue within the breast. In some cases, the lump will be tender, but pain is not as common in breast cancer lumps as they are in benign lumps.
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Possible Cause: Breast Tissue Changes
Breast tissue has natural lumps and bumps that you may feel, and you might just be more likely than others to develop lumps in your breasts.
If you feel the same lumpiness in both breasts, or there isnt one lump thats firmer than the others, its most likely your normal breast tissue. That said, if you find a lump that feels harder, in only one breast, or one that just feels different than what you usually feel, address it with your doctor.