Breast Lumps - Treatment and Diagnosis at Mercy’s Breast Center

Women have a natural lumpiness to their breasts. It is recommended that you perform breast self-exams on a regular basis so that you become familiar with the normal lumpiness of your breasts and can differentiate any new breast lumps. Breast lumps are common in women ages 30-50 and can be caused by infections, injuries, non-cancerous growths and cancer.

Contact a breast specialist or your primary care doctor if a breast lump does not go away during or after your cycle, or if you notice breast lumps after menopause. Not all breast lumps are cancerous. After feeling a breast lump, your doctor may order additional screenings and/or a biopsy to determine if a breast lump is malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous).

Treatment for breast lumps begins with evaluation. If you find a new or unusual breast lump and it does not go away after your period or you are post-menopausal you should contact your doctor or a breast specialist. If a doctor confirms that your breast lump is a concern you will need additional screenings and/or a biopsy. These additional tests will help your doctor determine the underlying cause of the lump so that the appropriate treatment for the breast lump can be pursued.