Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentComplications & Risk FactorsDiagnosisWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Complications & Risk Factors
Diagnosis
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
A lipoma in the breast is a benign tumor that is not cancerous.Lipomasare fatty tumors that can grow anywhere in the body. They are usually not painful and do not raise your risk of cancer.
Lipomas in the breast have very few symptoms. This article discusses the possible signs and potential causes of lipomas in the breast. It also covers risk factors and when to seek tests or treatment for your symptoms.
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What Do Breast Cancer Lumps Feel Like?
Symptoms of a Lipoma in the Breast
Lipomas are smallfatty tumorsthat rarely cause noticeable signs or symptoms. A lipoma in the breast may cause symptoms if it is large enough to be felt. Symptoms of a lipoma in the breast may include:
Types of Benign Breast Tumors
A benign tumor is a noncancerous growth. Benign tumors that may grow in the breast include:
Causes of a Lipoma in the Breast
Thecause of a lipomain the breast is usually unknown. Some research indicates that it may be related to an injury in the area. Trauma or injury to the breast could lead to increased production of fat cells and fatty tumors. Your risk of lipoma may increase if you have a family history of lipomas.
Lipomas in the breast may be associated with the following conditions:
How to Treat a Lipoma in the Breast
Lipomas are usually harmless and do not require treatment. If you have a painful or very large lipoma, your healthcare provider may recommend removing it. Surgery or liposuction can remove a lipoma.
A 2017 study found that removing lipomas withliposuctionwas associated with fewer adverse effects, like scarring, pain, and complications.When removed, lipomas have a very low rate of recurrence.
Complications and Risk Factors Associated With Lipomas in the Breast
Most lipomas are harmless and do not lead to complications. However, if your lipoma is very large or is rapidly growing, it could start to press on nerves, blood vessels, or joints. This could lead to pain and discomfort.
Risk factors for a lipoma in the breast include injury to the area and a family history of lipomas.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of a Lipoma in the Breast?
If you notice a soft lump in your breast, your healthcare provider will recommend diagnostic tests to rule outbreast cancer. Tests to expect include:
Breast Cancer Checks: From Self-Exams to Screening Tests
Anytime you feel a new lump in your breast, it is important to see your healthcare provider. This is especially essential if you or a family member have a history of cancer.
See your healthcare provider immediately if you feel a lump and show signs of breast cancer.Symptoms of breast cancerinclude:
Summary
A lipoma in the breast is a benign tumor made up of fat cells. It is usually harmless and painless. If the lipoma is large, it could lead to symptoms, including a lump under the skin that feels soft and doughy. If the lipoma presses on a nerve, blood vessel, or joint, it could cause pain.
Lipomas usually do not require treatment. If it is causing issues such as pain, your healthcare provider may recommend removing the lipoma with surgery or liposuction.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe cause of lipomas in the breast is usually unknown. An injury to the area or a family history of lipomas could raise your risk of experiencing a breast lipoma.A lipoma in the breast is usually small and does not cause symptoms. You may feel a soft, doughy lump right under the skin if it is large. Lipomas are typically painless.Most lipomas do not require treatment. If it is very large or causing pain, your healthcare provider may recommend removing the lipoma with surgery or liposuction. There are no home remedies for getting rid of lipomas.
The cause of lipomas in the breast is usually unknown. An injury to the area or a family history of lipomas could raise your risk of experiencing a breast lipoma.
A lipoma in the breast is usually small and does not cause symptoms. You may feel a soft, doughy lump right under the skin if it is large. Lipomas are typically painless.
Most lipomas do not require treatment. If it is very large or causing pain, your healthcare provider may recommend removing the lipoma with surgery or liposuction. There are no home remedies for getting rid of lipomas.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Radial scars and some other non-cancerous breast conditions.Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; December 2021.Peev I, Spasevska L, Mirchevska E, et al.Liposuction assisted lipoma removal - option or alternative?Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(6):766-770. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.186American Cancer Society.Breast cancer early detection and diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Radial scars and some other non-cancerous breast conditions.Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; December 2021.Peev I, Spasevska L, Mirchevska E, et al.Liposuction assisted lipoma removal - option or alternative?Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(6):766-770. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.186American Cancer Society.Breast cancer early detection and diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Radial scars and some other non-cancerous breast conditions.Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; December 2021.Peev I, Spasevska L, Mirchevska E, et al.Liposuction assisted lipoma removal - option or alternative?Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(6):766-770. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.186American Cancer Society.Breast cancer early detection and diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.
American Cancer Society.Radial scars and some other non-cancerous breast conditions.
Charifa A, Azmat CE, Badri T.Lipoma pathology. In:StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; December 2021.
Peev I, Spasevska L, Mirchevska E, et al.Liposuction assisted lipoma removal - option or alternative?Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2017;5(6):766-770. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2017.186
American Cancer Society.Breast cancer early detection and diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of breast cancer.
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