Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Cancerous Tumor?Checking Your Breast for LumpsOther Breast Cancer SymptomsWhen to See Your Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Cancerous Tumor?
Checking Your Breast for Lumps
Other Breast Cancer Symptoms
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
This article explains whatbreast cancerlumps are, other symptoms of breast cancer, and how to detect them.
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Atumoris a mass of cells. A cancerous tumor forms when abnormal cells grow out of control in one spot, forming a mass. Noncancerous tumors also can be referred to as a tumor, but, typically, noncancerous tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant vs. Benign TumorMalignanttumors are cancerous, whereasbenigntumors are not.
Malignant vs. Benign Tumor
Malignanttumors are cancerous, whereasbenigntumors are not.
Malignant vs. Benign Tumors: What Are the Differences?
Self-examination forbreast cancer lumpsis helpful in detecting, early on, any changes that could be breast cancer. However, self-examination should not be used as a replacement for regularscreening testsfor breast cancer.
How to Do a Self-Exam
Breast self-examinationsare not always needed in people who undergo regularmammogramscreenings.They are also not recommended as a replacement for routine breast cancer screenings at a healthcare provider’s office as most breast cancer cases are found through screenings instead of self-examination.
Though rare, self-examination can sometimes detect cancerous lumps and, therefore, performing at-home screenings can’t hurt. If you opt to use self-exams along with other screenings, you should perform them once a month, roughly three to five days following the start of your menstrual period. To perform an exam, you will:
Lift your arms and repeat the visual examination.
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.
What Do Breast Cancer Lumps Feel Like?
Many other symptoms are associated with breast cancer, some of which are common and others are rare. Symptoms can also develop that do not appear to be related to breast health. Other signs associated with breast cancer are:
Other nonspecific symptoms of breast cancer (common symptoms that could represent a number of conditions) may include muscle, joint, or bone aches that can occur alongside fatigue, weakness, and unintentional weight loss. Chest pain and back pain can also be present in breast cancer.
Early Signs of Breast Cancer
Early detection is vital to ensuring thatbreast cancer doesn’t spreadand can be treated effectively.
Also, any nonspecific symptoms should prompt a visit to your healthcare provider because a small number of breast cancers present without lumps at first.
How Long Do People Typically Wait Before Seeing a Medical Provider?Research has shown that many women wait roughly three months before seeing their medical provider after the onset of symptoms of breast cancer. That is far too long and should not be used as a guideline.
How Long Do People Typically Wait Before Seeing a Medical Provider?
Research has shown that many women wait roughly three months before seeing their medical provider after the onset of symptoms of breast cancer. That is far too long and should not be used as a guideline.
Summary
Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women, but early detection can prevent it from spreading throughout the body and causing severe disease. That is why it’s crucial to know what a breast cancer lump feels like, how to do a breast exam yourself, and when you should see your healthcare provider for any changes. This self-exams is helpful, but can’t replace regular screenings.
Even nonspecific breast cancer symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue, or back and muscle pain, should be addressed. While connecting breast cancer with these symptoms may be challenging, it’s better to see your medical provider early than wait until cancer has spread to other areas.
A Word From Verywell
Thinking you may have breast cancer is scary, especially for women who may be at a higher risk. Because of that, many women may not want to perform self-exams at home. First knowing how your breasts look and feel and then monitoring changes is the best way to keep on top of your breast health at home between regular screenings.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA breast cancer lump can be located anywhere within the breast or under the armpit since breast tissue spans that area. However, lumps are most commonly found in the upper area of the breast, closer to the outer part of the body.In men diagnosed with breast cancer, it is typically found closer to the nipple.Learn MoreAn Overview of Breast Cancer in MalesBreast cancer lumps can feel firm or hard. They may also be tender to the touch or, in rare cases, painful. The lumps will also feel as though they are either attached to the outer layer of skin on the breast or somewhere inside the breast.Learn MoreBreast Cancer Screening GuidelinesWhile some cases of breast cancer lumps can occur with pain, it is not all that common. Only roughly 6% of people with breast cancer will have a painful lump. The remaining 93% often report other symptoms of breast cancer that do not include pain.Learn MoreAre You Having Breast Cancer Pain?
A breast cancer lump can be located anywhere within the breast or under the armpit since breast tissue spans that area. However, lumps are most commonly found in the upper area of the breast, closer to the outer part of the body.In men diagnosed with breast cancer, it is typically found closer to the nipple.Learn MoreAn Overview of Breast Cancer in Males
A breast cancer lump can be located anywhere within the breast or under the armpit since breast tissue spans that area. However, lumps are most commonly found in the upper area of the breast, closer to the outer part of the body.In men diagnosed with breast cancer, it is typically found closer to the nipple.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Breast Cancer in Males
Breast cancer lumps can feel firm or hard. They may also be tender to the touch or, in rare cases, painful. The lumps will also feel as though they are either attached to the outer layer of skin on the breast or somewhere inside the breast.Learn MoreBreast Cancer Screening Guidelines
Breast cancer lumps can feel firm or hard. They may also be tender to the touch or, in rare cases, painful. The lumps will also feel as though they are either attached to the outer layer of skin on the breast or somewhere inside the breast.
Learn MoreBreast Cancer Screening Guidelines
While some cases of breast cancer lumps can occur with pain, it is not all that common. Only roughly 6% of people with breast cancer will have a painful lump. The remaining 93% often report other symptoms of breast cancer that do not include pain.Learn MoreAre You Having Breast Cancer Pain?
While some cases of breast cancer lumps can occur with pain, it is not all that common. Only roughly 6% of people with breast cancer will have a painful lump. The remaining 93% often report other symptoms of breast cancer that do not include pain.
Learn MoreAre You Having Breast Cancer Pain?
8 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.Canadian Cancer Society.Types of tumours.Schneider AP 2nd, Zainer CM, Kubat CK, Mullen NK, Windisch AK.The breast cancer epidemic: 10 facts.Linacre Q.2014 Aug;81(3):244-77. doi:10.1179/2050854914Y.0000000027American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.Medline Plus.Breast self-exam.Canadian Cancer Society.Symptoms of breast cancer.Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, McPhail S, Rubin GP, Lyratzopoulos G.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol.2017 Jun;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010Stony Brook Cancer Center.Different kinds of breast lumps.Yalaza M, İnan A, Bozer M.Male breast cancer.J Breast Health. 2016;12(1):1-8. doi: 10.5152/tjbh.2015.2711
8 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.Canadian Cancer Society.Types of tumours.Schneider AP 2nd, Zainer CM, Kubat CK, Mullen NK, Windisch AK.The breast cancer epidemic: 10 facts.Linacre Q.2014 Aug;81(3):244-77. doi:10.1179/2050854914Y.0000000027American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.Medline Plus.Breast self-exam.Canadian Cancer Society.Symptoms of breast cancer.Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, McPhail S, Rubin GP, Lyratzopoulos G.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol.2017 Jun;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010Stony Brook Cancer Center.Different kinds of breast lumps.Yalaza M, İnan A, Bozer M.Male breast cancer.J Breast Health. 2016;12(1):1-8. doi: 10.5152/tjbh.2015.2711
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.
Canadian Cancer Society.Types of tumours.Schneider AP 2nd, Zainer CM, Kubat CK, Mullen NK, Windisch AK.The breast cancer epidemic: 10 facts.Linacre Q.2014 Aug;81(3):244-77. doi:10.1179/2050854914Y.0000000027American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.Medline Plus.Breast self-exam.Canadian Cancer Society.Symptoms of breast cancer.Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, McPhail S, Rubin GP, Lyratzopoulos G.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol.2017 Jun;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010Stony Brook Cancer Center.Different kinds of breast lumps.Yalaza M, İnan A, Bozer M.Male breast cancer.J Breast Health. 2016;12(1):1-8. doi: 10.5152/tjbh.2015.2711
Canadian Cancer Society.Types of tumours.
Schneider AP 2nd, Zainer CM, Kubat CK, Mullen NK, Windisch AK.The breast cancer epidemic: 10 facts.Linacre Q.2014 Aug;81(3):244-77. doi:10.1179/2050854914Y.0000000027
American Cancer Society.American Cancer Society recommendations for the early detection of breast cancer.
Medline Plus.Breast self-exam.
Canadian Cancer Society.Symptoms of breast cancer.
Koo MM, von Wagner C, Abel GA, McPhail S, Rubin GP, Lyratzopoulos G.Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.Cancer Epidemiol.2017 Jun;48:140-146. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2017.04.010
Stony Brook Cancer Center.Different kinds of breast lumps.
Yalaza M, İnan A, Bozer M.Male breast cancer.J Breast Health. 2016;12(1):1-8. doi: 10.5152/tjbh.2015.2711
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