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Female Breast
Female Breast
Causes of Breast Lumps
Causes of Breast Lumps

Breast lumps and cancer
Alternative Names:
Cancer and breast lumps

Information:

Question:
Does a lump in the breast always mean cancer?

Answer:
No. While the most common breast complaint is a breast mass, only a small percentage are cancer. A cancerous lump tends to be hard and is unmovable. See breast lump and fibroadenoma.

Question:
Should you worry about cancer with breasts that are normally lumpy?

Answer:
Many women have lumpy breasts, or a condition (fibrocystic breast disease) that is benign. Appropriate monitoring and screening is still necessary, even though the breasts often feel lumpy. This should be diagnosed and monitored by your health care provider.

Review Date: 1/23/2002
Reviewed By: Victoria Kennedy, RN, A.D.A.M. editorial. (1/23/2002). Previous review: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director; RxRemedy. (2/9/2000).
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