Most women experience breast changes at some time in their life. Your age, hormone levels and the medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps and discharges.
If you have a breast lump, pain, discharge or skin irritation, make an appointment to see one of our health care providers. Minor and serious breast problems have similar symptoms and should be treated. Although many women fear cancer, most breast problems are not cancer related. On this page you will find information on the following breast related medical issues:
| Breast Cancer | Breast Feeding | Helpful Links |
| Mammography | Breast Diseases | Mastectomy Screenings |
| Breast Reconstruction | Mastectomy |
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any other cancer except for lung cancer. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Risks that you cannot change include:
- Age: the chances of getting breast cancer rises as a woman gets older
- Genes: there are two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, that greatly increase the risk
- History: women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer may wish to be tested
- Personal factors: beginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55
Other risks include:
- being overweight
- using hormone replacement therapy
- taking birth control pills
- drinking alcohol
- not having children
- having your first child after age 35
- having dense breasts.
Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. A breast self-exam and a mammography can help find breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Treatment may consist of radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Mammography
Mammography is a screening tool that uses X-rays to create an image of the breast. These images, called mammograms, are used to find early signs of breast cancer such as a dense mass or clusters of calcium.
Mammography is the best screening tool used today to find breast cancer. It can find cancers at an early stage, when they are small (too small to be felt) and most responsive to treatment.
Mammograms are recommended for women who have symptoms of breast cancer or who have a high risk of the disease. You and your health care provider should discuss when to start having mammograms and how often to get one.
What to Expect during a Mammography Screening
Before the procedure, you will undress from the waist up, so it is a good idea to wear a shirt you can remove easily. Avoid using deodorants, antiperspirants, perfumes, powders or lotions in the breast and underarm area on the day of the exam. Ingredients in these products can show up on a mammogram and make it harder to interpret.
Getting a screening mammogram takes about 15 minutes. During the procedure, each breast is pressed between two plates, and an X-ray image is made. Two views of each breast are taken, one with the X-ray beam aimed from top to bottom and the other from side to side.
Sometimes, the pressure can be uncomfortable, but it usually only lasts a few seconds. Tell the mammography technologist if you feel any discomfort. Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) about an hour before the exam may help. If you have concerns, talk to your health care provider about other ways to help ease discomfort (or anxiety) during a mammogram. And, before the exam, let your technologist know your concerns.
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the surgical removal of the entire breast. Some women have the option of mastectomy or lumpectomy (also called breast conserving surgery) plus radiation. Other women can only have mastectomy. There are four main types of mastectomies:
- Total mastectomy: removal of breast tissue and nipple
- Modified radical mastectomy: removal of the breast, most of the lymph nodes under the arm and often the lining over the chest muscles
- Lumpectomy: surgery to remove the tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it
- Radical mastectomy: the removal of the breast, lymph nodes and chest muscles. This procedure is no longer as common
Which surgery you have depends on the stage of cancer, size of the tumor, size of the breast and whether the lymph nodes are involved. Many women have breast reconstruction to rebuild the breast after a mastectomy.
Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction is a surgery to rebuild a breast's shape after a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction cannot give a woman back her breast, a reconstructed breast does not have natural sensations, but the surgery offers a result that looks like a breast. Many women who have had breast reconstruction surgery are glad they did and are happy with the results.
Breast Feeding
Breast feeding offers many benefits foe your baby. Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients to help your infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler. Some of the nutrients in breast milk also help protect your infant against some common childhood illnesses and infections. It may also help your health. Studies have shown that certain types of cancer may occur less often in mothers who have breast fed their babies.
Women who don't have health problems should try to give their babies breast milk for at least the first six months of life. There are some cases when it's better not to breast feed. If you have HIV or active tuberculosis, you should not breast feed because you could give the infection to your baby. Certain medicines, illegal drugs, and alcohol can also pass through the breast milk and cause harm to your baby. If you have any questions concerning breast feeding, contact your pediatrician or health care provider.
Breast Diseases
Some common causes of breast changes are:
- Fibrocystic breast condition: lumpiness, thickening and swelling, often associated with a woman's period
- Cysts: fluid-filled lumps
- Fibroadenomas: solid, round, rubbery lumps that move easily when pushed, occurring most in younger women
- Intraductal papillomas — growths similar to warts near the nipple
- Intraductal papillomas: growths similar to warts near the nipple
- Blocked or clogged milk ducts
- Milk production when a woman is not breastfeeding
- Injury
- Susan G. Komen for the Cure
- BreastCancer.org
- ACOG—Breast Self-Exam FAQ
- ACOG—Mammography FAQ
- Breast Cancer Facts
- Breast Feeding
- Fibrocystic Breasts Changes
