Symptoms depend on the underlying cause of the lump. Signs of a potentially cancerous breast lump may include:

• A painless lump that is firm or hard, with irregular borders (edges)
• Armpit lump
• Arm swelling
• Bone pain
• Difference in breast size, compared with what it previously looked like
• Nipple changes, including pulling inward, swelling, or itching
• Nipple discharge -- usually bloody or straw-colored fluid
• Skin changes such as dimpling or "orange peel" appearance, redness, easy to see veins on breast surface, and eventually skin ulceration
• Weight loss

The doctor will perform a breast exam to feel for lumps. Tests that may be used to determine if a lump is cancer may include:

• Breast biopsy
• Breast ultrasound
• Mammogram
• Breast MRI

Images

Female breast

Normal female breast anatomy

Causes of breast lumps

Review Date: 08/24/2009
Reviewed By: Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)