Breast lump worry
Other Q&As
Two years ago I had a benign lump removed from my right breast. I was told no further check ups were required.
In September last year both breasts became lumpy. I was referred back to the consultant in December and told the lumps would disappear as quickly as they appeared - they haven't.
How do I know if the lumps are OK or not?
Answer
It is always worrying to have a lump anywhere, but particularly if it is in the breast. It is also difficult if you seem to have had conflicting advice from a health professional.
Benign (non-malignant) breast lumps are much more common than cancerous ones, and this is a good point to remember.
Only one in ten breast lumps will be a cancer, but as far as doctors are concerned, any breast lump is cancerous until proved otherwise.
Age is important when it comes to considering whether a breast lump is dangerous or not: the younger a woman is, the less likely a lump will be malignant. However, this is only a generalisation and all lumps should be seen and examined by a doctor if there is any concern about them.
It sounds as if you might have a benign breast condition where women have generally lumpy breasts and form fibroadenomas (fibrous tissue) from time to time.
These breast lumps are often smooth and move about easily within the breast tissue, hence their nickname of 'breast mice'.
If a large, single fibroadenoma is found, then it is usually removed surgically, so it can't be confused with a cancerous lump in the future.
Other benign breast conditions include breast cysts (usually found in 25-45 year old women) and diffuse breast disease (found in 30-50 year old women, associated with breast tenderness and little lumps on examination).
If any woman has a lump in her breast that she is worried about, she should make an urgent appointment to see her doctor.
Most district general hospitals now have specialist breast clinics. All necessary examinations, including mammogram and ultrasound can be arranged in one fell swoop, if not performed on one day, with the results available with a minimum of wait.
If your lump hasn't disappeared as the consultant said it would, do speak to your GP again.
Yours sincerely
The Medical Team
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