Common Breast Conditions

Breast disorders are of two types: Benign (noncancerous) and malignant (cancerous). Fortunately, regular self-examination of the breasts and mammograms will help in detecting these problems early.

Breast pain (mastalgia) affects many women at some point in their lives. Younger, premenopausal women experience mastalgia more often than postmenopausal women.

Some amount of breast pain is experienced before menstrual period and before Menopause.

Some women go through moderate-to-severe breast pain for a few days while others feel severe breast pain throughout their menstrual cycles.

Breast pain alone is not an indicator of breast cancer. Yet, if you have unexplained and prolonged breast pains consult your doctor immediately.

Galactorrhea refers to milky discharge from the nipples that usually occur from both breasts. Galactorrhea is not a disease but may be a symptom or sign of an underlying problem. The adverse effects of certain medications and/or stimulating the breasts too often or excessively can lead to the condition.

Mastitis is an infection of the breast which most often occurs in breastfeeding mothers. The symptoms are pain, swelling and redness of the breast.

Mastitis often affects mothers a few weeks after they give birth and can be a highly exhausting experience. Mastitis can also occur later during breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding mothers may sometimes be forced to wean their baby away because of the pain.

Nipple discharge, in this condition fluid is discharge by the nipples when the mother is not breastfeeding.

You can notice the discharge on either or both your nipples when you gently squeeze your nipples.

A nipple discharge may look milky, or it may be yellow, or bloody and varies from being thick and sticky to thin and watery.

There is no need to panic as cancer is seldom the underlying cause for such secretions. Consult your doctor to diagnose the reason for the condition.

Mammary duct ectasia or blocked milk ducts, in this condition sometimes a milk Common breast conditions duct below the nipples may expand and get filled with fluid clogging or blocking the milk ducts.

It often causes no symptoms, but some women may have nipple discharge and breast tenderness. There is no need for unnecessary concern since the condition is not a sign or a risk factor for breast cancer. Inform your doctor about your condition.

Mammary duct ectasia often gets cured without treatment, but if the symptoms are prolonged and troublesome your doctor may have to extract the blocked milk duct surgically.

Breast lumps are abnormal bulges or masses of tissue located anywhere in one or both breasts. These lumps may even extend up to the lower areas of the arms.

Features of breast lumps

• It can vary in shape and size.
• It can be a tiny lump or a large one.
• Its shape can be round or uneven.
• It can be painful or painless lump.
• Characterized by a deep pink or red color around them.

Most benign or less serious breast conditions do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer. However, it is recommended that you consult doctor immediately if you notice that one or both your breasts have lumps that exhibit the following qualities:

• Lumps are newly formed which are unusual to you.
• Lumps are unevenly shaped.
• Lumps are fixed or firmly attached to the chest wall.
• Lumps are hard and solid.
• There is wrinkling of the skin over the lump.
• Unrelated to a Menstrual cycle or do not disappear after the next menstrual period.
• Lumps are surrounded by reddened skin.

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop in the breast causing pain.

Breast Cysts can be tiny or large. They are a common phenomenon in many women.

Some women report frequent occurrences of cysts, while for some others it is very rare.

The cause of breast Cysts is unknown, although injury can be a cause.

Fibroadenomas are small, solid, rubbery noncancerous lumps made of fibrous and glandular tissue. Fibroadenomas usually appear in young women, including teenagers. The cause for fibroadenomas is not known

See your doctor if you experience the following.

• A lump that feels noticeably different from other breast tissue or that does not recede.
• Swelling that does not decrease.
• Wrinkling or dimpling in the skin of the breast.
• Peeling skin around the nipples.
• Nipple discharge, particularly if it is bloody.
• Changes in breast shape.
• Inverted nipples.