Breast Lump

You have received a lot of responses, but I wanted to respond to tell you not to worry just yet. Many breast lumps are benign. I had a fibroid on the bottom side of my breast a few years ago. (A fibroid is a mass of tissue caused by increased levels of estrogen.) It was about the size of a small grape and moved around when pressed on -- kind of rubbery feeling. You should definitely get it checked out, but if it is a fibroid they are dealt with in a simple out-patient surgery and have no connection to an increased risk of cancer.

K.,
Is this lump uncomfortable? I had clogged ducts many years ago, as I couldn't nurse for about a week due to an antibiotic that my doc gave me. During that time, I couldn't get an electric breast pump and I didn't have much luck at all with the manual pump. I did, however, have great success (and relief) by running a very warm and high bath, soaking in the bath and manually expressing the milk and long stringy clogs. I also developed a lump while nursing my youngest child. That turned out to be a fatty tumor. So, here's my thought: If you feel inclined, try the "milk bath". It doesn't cost anything and might actually be the answer. If that doesn't work, you will need to investigate further. Good luck!

I am sure its fine but with any change get it checked. It could be a cyst but always better to be safe then sorry. Good luck!

K., Never, EVER, ignore a breast lump...no matter if you've had them before or not. Have it checked by a breast surgeon. Not your OB-GYN. I was diagnosed with breast cancer one month after my yearly OB Gyn appt. It was found by a breast surgeon, who I always went to, mammogram in hand, after I had my yearly mammorgram. Please, have it checked out. Better to be safe, right?
S. G

Yes, please get it checked immediately! It may be nothing as mine was and my sisters as well.

But it could also be something that you need to deal with and you wouldn't want to put off doing that. We all know women that have found themselves in that situation.

It's probably nothing but a clogged duct but you will sleep better at night knowing that.

Good luck,

K.

ANY lumps in the breast need to be checked by a doctor.

Try hot packs. Try a massage therapist who specializes in womens issues. Also talk to the doctor. It sound like it does not hurt which worries me. If it hurt I would say milk or hormones. I would rather have you find out then wait to long. Better to have an answer then to worry.

Is it a hard defined lump or just a hardened area? The reason that I ask is that I discovered a hardened area of my breast, no real definite borders, it just gradually softened around it. It concerned and my OB, and I had an mammogram, ultrasound and ultimately a biopsy, but it turned out to be nothing. They concluded that it was a clogged duct, and in fact it is still there and I stopped BFing 3 years ago. I would still get it checked though to help put your mind at ease. Good luck!

Hi K.,

As a 35 year old mom to a beautiful and very bright 2 in a half year old boy, you can't take chances with your life. I'm currently fighting Non hodgkins lymphoma and beating it. I was two months pregnant when I miscarried and dr's accidentially located a mass behind my breast bone.I'm very lucky and blessed they found it when they did, and very grateful I'm doing so well and relieved to know I'll be here for my son Johnny's future and God willing any other little ones that come along. Your lump may be nothing, but you shldn't wait and get it checked out. Do it for you, your family and your sanity.Give yourself some piece of mind, and pls get it checked out asap. Even If you just call and mention it to your Dr. When in doubt, check it out. You have enough to worry about with a little one, you probably don't have cancer, it may be from nursing, but wldn't you rather know for sure that it's nothing? Guessing games are risks and your family needs you. Good luck I will keep you in my prayers for a good talk or visit with your Dr. Be well and pls keep me posted.

Fighting R. :)

Better safe than sorry. See your doctor. My mom nursed six and still got breast cancer. Have it checked.

K., I had a small bump near my armpit when breastfeeding, but my son was only 2 days old!! I went straight to the dr. b/c I was afraid I suddenly got breast cancer after giving birth. He saw it and right away said it was a clogged duct. Needless to say, after more nursing it went away & didn't come back. HOWEVER, since you have been breastfeeding for 7 mo. already, I would not make any assumptions. I think you should go to the dr. (better to be safe than sorry, right?). Maybe you're pumping less at work than your baby nursed prior to going back to work & that is causing a clog, but please let the dr. tell you that, don't assume it for yourself. Good luck!

As an 8 year BC survivor...better safe than sorry. It most likely is nothing . . . but have your OB/Gyn take a look. This will help to ease your mind.

A.
Mother of two lovely girls 18 and 19

Hi K.. I also had a breast lump that I noticed after my second child. First I thought it was just the milk ducts, but it never went away. I did go to my ob/gyn and he had me go in for an ultrasound and a mammogram. It turned out that it was a cyst. It is very small. I still have it. I just recently went in for another mammogram (a year since the first) and it is still the same. Make sure you get it checked out. Most likely it is nothing to worry about, but you need to make sure because if it is something it is better to catch it early. Good luck and God bless.
T.

K., please get it checked out by your OB. I had my son in July 2004 and bf for 6 months. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2005. I certainly hope and pray that it is something simple, but you just never know. I was only 38 when I was diagnosed also. If you have more questions, please send me a private message.

OK... this is going to sound kinda gross. Do you have what looks like a pimple on the tip of your nipple? I got little white-head looking things sometimes. I sterilized a needle, and then I pierced the pimple thing. Milk poured out. After doing that, I was able to massage the lump away while pumping and/or breastfeeding.

I agree with everyone. If you can't get the lump to go away with all these suggestions in the next day or two, see your doctor. Good luck!

You don't mention how long the lump has been there- most likely it is a clogged duct. If you haven't already tried this, try moist heat, massage, standing in the shower with the hot water on it, repositioning the pump and baby to stimulate the nipple a little differently and perhaps work it out. It can evolve into mastitis if it is a clogged duct so keep working on it.

As for being something more concerning- one of the easiest ways to tell is to see if there is a similar lump in the same location on your other breast. If there is it is probably a hormonal thing or just a part of your anatomy you haven't noticed before. Either way, don't hesitate to see your doctor or midwife if you are concerned- that's what they are there for. Best wishes.

You might have gotten this resolved already but I saw the post and thought I'd respond. I had discovered a lump one night when I was nursing prety frequently. I pumped, nursed my son, and pumped some more and it was still there. Once he woke up for his morning feeding though he got rid of it.

I never believed it when they said the baby was more efficient than the pump until that night.

Hi K.! Definitely call your Ob/gyn and get it checked! It's better to be safe than sorry! At 29 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I had been still nursing my 10 month old daughter. I am so thankful I made the call to get checked out and resulted in it being caught early. I had no family history and the lump did not hurt at all. Most likely your lump is just from nursing but you will feel much better knowing that's all it is! Gosh knows there's so much in the news & on TV about breast cancer...you can't get away from hearing about it! My good thoughts are with you and if you have any questions, please e-mail me. V. :D

Always get any lump checked, that's the only way you'll know what it is!

If it's a clogged milk duct, this may help: Have your baby nurse with her lower jaw on the area where you've got the lump. They are very efficient and able to get milk out much better than a pump or when we try to hand express the milk ourselves. My ducts get clogged on the top/side of my breast which means I have to lay on the bed sideways and have my baby nurse "upside down". It works, though! Good luck.

Don't ignore a breast lump! See a doctor ASAP and make sure you get it checked out. Chances are it's probably not a big deal but what if it is? Early detection is best if it is something.

I had that happen to me - it ended up being a cyst. I would definitely get it checked out!! I called my ob-gyn who had me come in immediately for a check, from there I had an ultrasound that determined it was a cyst. My ob was able to asperate it in the office.

Go back to your doctor (either ob gyn or family doctor) and ask for referral for mamography. Having mamography will give more details about the lump and give you peace of mind knowing more details. Not all lumps are bad but it is not possible to know for sure without having mamography. This is a simple outpatient test.