Hard Breast Lump – Could It Be Cancer?

When a woman suddenly finds a hard breast lump during breast-self examination, all sorts of negative thoughts flow through her mind. She suddenly dreads that the breast lump that she identified is indicative of breast cancer. Discovering a hard breast lump is unquestionably alarming, but in this case, you may find it comforting to seek the advice of a doctor. Believe it or not, approximately 80 percent of all breast lumps that are biopsied end up being cancerous. Remember though that it is strongly recommended that you consult a doctor to make certain that the lump in your breast is just a benign condition or otherwise.

Lump mobility is what usually differentiates a malignant breast lump from a benign breast lump. A breast lump can possibly be movable or tightly fixed to the chest. Even though most malignant lumps in the breast are firm and hard, get comfort and ease in the possibilities that such lumps may simply be benign. If all hard and non-movable lumps were breast cancer, diagnostic exams such as mammograms, biopsies, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs would not then be at all required. Just because you have a hard breast lump doesn’t mean that you are bound to die of breast cancer anytime soon.

The vast majority of hard breast lumps fall under benign fibroadenomas. These lumps can occur in all age groups but are particularly more common in young women (below 30 years old) and teenage girls. These are likewise common in those women who took birth control pills at a very young age. Yes it’s true that fibroadenomas may increase a woman’s chances of getting breast cancer in the future, but don’t extremely stress about it because this happens only in very rare cases. But as mentioned earlier, consulting a doctor is still important.

In conclusion, bear in mind that it’s very vital that you consult a doctor for any breast lump that you find. Whether it’s a soft or hard breast lump that you found, consulting a health expert is advised. One cannot be too unconcerned about a hard breast lump just because you were informed that a huge majority of it is simply a benign condition called fibroadenoma. Remember, a hard breast lump is 80 percent benign. But don’t forget too that it could be 20 percent cancer.