Breast is made up of milk glands and ducts. The tissues of breasts are flexible to change its size and number depending on the requirement of the body. There are many fibrous connective tissues, nervous tissues, blood vessels, lymph nodes and fatty tissues, which changes in structure as per the hormonal changes of the body.
Lumps refer to the protuberance in the tissues and there are of many types of lumps, which can be found in breasts. More than eighty percent of the cause for breast lumps are non cancerous (benign). Lumps can be seen in both men and women, which are caused due to the hormonal changes.
In Infants: In infants, it is caused due to the carried over estrogen from mother. As the hormone clears, the lump goes away.
In Girls: Girls reaching puberty may have one or more tender lumps in the age between nine to twelve years. Sometimes, it is also found in girls of age six years. These are called breast buds, which symbolizes puberty.
In Teenage boys: Boys may have bumps in the age between twelve to fifteen years and the lump goes away with time. It happens due to hormonal changes.
In Women: Women may have lumps caused by cancerous or non cancerous causes such as:
Fibroadenosis: It is condition in which the tissues grow due to abnormalities in breast and it is most commonly found in women in the reproductive age. The lumps can be tender and it is caused by changes in the structure of tissues.
Fibroadenomas: Rubbery lumps can be seen in the tissues, which are found in women before menopause and the growth is non- cancerous. To cure Fibroadenomas, the medical practitioner may diagnose the lump by doing a biopsy and surgically remove it.
Cysts: Fluid filled sacs are formed in the tissues, which can be drained using a needle by a medical practitioner. If the fluid is bloody it can be drained and send to a lab for diagnosis. If the lump reappears after draining the fluid, surgery may be required to remove it.
Milk cysts: Infections called mastitis, and milk cysts can cause lumps, which can be found in women after giving birth.
Physical injury or trauma: Trauma can cause collection of blood below the skin and as the days passes the lump may disappear on its own. In some cases, the lumps are filled with blood and the doctor may have to drain the blood to remove it.
Collection of fatty tissues: Collection of fatty tissues can also cause lumps. The condition is also called lipoma.
Growth of milk ducts: Milk dusts growth below the skin can cause a condition called Intraductal papilloma and it is usually found in the part of the skin close to the nipples. It is commonly seen in women in age group of thirty-five to fifty-five and its symptoms are watery discharge, which can be pink in color. But if the women have a blood discharge, it can indicate breast cancer.
