Breast C a n c e r A w a r e n e s s

Breast Lumps: Facts

FACT 1: A Breast Lump Is Not Necessarily Cancer
aren't cancer.
• Most breast lumps women feel -- 8 out of 10 --
for the m to be a cys t (a sac ) or a fib roa de no ma (an abnormal growth
It's more common
So me lum ps co me an d go du rin g a wo ma n's me nstrual cycle.
that's not cancer).
nt to kn ow yo ur ow n bo dy an d de tec t a ch an ge which may need
• "It's always importa
be eva lua ted ," "If it is can cer , the n yo u ma y ha ve saved your life."
to

Lu mp Bu t Yo ur Ma mm og ra m Is No rm al, Yo u’r e No t Done

FACT 2: If You Have A
ts, su ch as an MR I, ult ras ou nd , or fol low -up ma mmogram,
• You may need more tes
y als o ne ed to ge t a bio ps y, wh ich is wh en a do ctor takes a small
• You ma
sample of the lump to test it.

FACT 3: Cancerous Breast Lumps Can Be Painful

• Having breast pain doesn't rule out cancer.
y bre ast can cer - wh ich ha s ear ly sym pto ms su ch as redness, swelling,
• Inflammator
an d wa rm th in the bre ast -- can be pa inf ul wh en there is a lump.
tenderness,

Fin d A Lu mp Wh ile Br ea stf ee din g, It Ca n Be Ca nc er

FACT 4: If You
u les s like ly to ge t bre ast can cer, it can still happ en.
• Though breastfee din g do es ma ke yo
n't ignore it.
If you notice a lump while you're breastfeeding, do
• Get an ultrasound to check it out.
Breast C a n c e r A w a r e n e s s
Breast Lumps: Facts Be Ca nc er ou s
FACT 5: If Yo u’r e Yo un g, A Br ea st Lu mp Ca n
At an y ag e, yo u sh ou ld ge t bre ast lum ps ch eck ed out by a doctor.
•
mo st wo me n wh o ge t bre ast can cer are pa st me nopause or
• Even though
unger woman.
older than 50, a lump can be cancer, even in a yo

mp Is Lik ely To Be Ca nc er As Wi th A La rg e Lu mp
FACT 6: A Small Lu
co me in all siz es, an d siz e do esn 't aff ect the od ds that it's cancer
• Breast lumps
r yo u fee l a lum p tha t's ne w or un us ua l, eve n if it's tiny, see your doctor.
• Wheneve
Even small lumps can be aggressive cancers.

Fe el A Lu mp So on Af te r A Ma mm og ra m, Do n’t Wa it Another
FACT 7: If Yo u
Year
yo ur do cto r if yo u no tic e a lum p so on aft er yo ur latest mammogram,
• Call
miss some cancers,
even if the results were normal. Mammograms can
yo u ha ve de ns e bre ast tis su e or if the lum p is in an awkward location
especially if
(such as near your armpit).
su gg est a 'w atc h-a nd -w ait ' ap pro ach aft er the appropriate
• "The doctor should on ly
icious can be felt.
breast imaging has been normal and nothing susp

mp Is Pr ob ab ly Ha rm fu l Ev en If Th er e’s No Br ea st Cancer In
FACT 8: A Lu
Your Family
they're no t at ris k for bre ast can cer if no on e in their family has had it.
• Many women think
But that's not true.
wit h bre ast can cer ha ve a rel ati ve wh o's ha d the disease.
• Less than 15% of women
by a do cto r, wh eth er or no t bre ast can cer run s in your family.
• Get all lumps checked