What Are The Causes Of Breast Lumps?

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 20 Apr 2010 - 0:00 PDT


Benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps are usually caused by hormonal changes in the female's body. Moments of hormonal change may occur during:

• The menstrual cycle
• Adolescence
• The menopause
• Pregnancy

If a woman experiences breast pain that is not linked to her menstrual cycle, it is called non-cyclic pain.

Benign (non-cancerous) breast lumps may also be cause by:

• Mastitis - inflammationof tissue in one or both mammary glands inside the breast. Mastitis usually affects lactating women - women who are breastfeeding, producing milk. Hence, it is often referred to as lactation mastitis. The patient feels a hard, sore spot inside the breast. Mastitis can occur as a result of an infection or a blocked milk duct.
• Nipple discharge
• Dilated milk ducts
• Breast injury
• Post-operative scarring of breast tissue

Breast cancer - a tumor that has become malignant - it has developed from the breast cells. A 'malignant' tumor can spread to other parts of the body - it may also invade surrounding tissue. When it spreads around the body, we call it 'metastasis'. A woman's breast consists of lobules. Lobules are milk-producing glands. The breast is also full of ducts - milk passages that connect the lobules to the nipple. There is also fatty and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules - this is called stroma.

The most common breast cancers start in the cells around the ducts. Others can start in the cells that line the lobules. A smaller number of breast cancers can start in other parts of the breast.

• What Are Breast Lumps?
• What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Lumps
• What Are The Causes Of Breast Lumps?
• How Is A Breast Lump Diagnosed?
• What Are The Treatment Options For A Breast Lump?

Written by Christian Nordqvist

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