Is it normal to feel something in your breast

That being said, Dr. Joshi says that there are some features that make a lump particularly concerning, including:. Joshi says your first action after feeling a breast lump should be to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor.

Your doctor will look for a variety of features and characteristics in order to answer questions such as:. A woman's risk for breast cancer is highest after the age of 50, but even young women can develop breast cancer.

Since any lump could potentially be cancerous, it's critical that you have any lump you may have felt evaluated by a doctor — no matter your age. In addition, Dr. Joshi says you shouldn't avoid having a lump checked just because you're worried about having a painful biopsy.

Lastly, if you're nervous about going to your doctor's office to have a lump checked during COVID, don't be. Houston Methodist doctor offices and imaging centers have enhanced safety measures in place and are taking extra precautions to keep you safe during your appointment or mammogram, including:.

Puberty: Normal changes in the breasts, including enlargement of the areolae, begin when the breast begin to grow, before the onset of menstruation. Such regular variations including swelling, tenderness and increased nodularity lumpiness just before the menstrual period, when hormone levels are highest; breast feel least nodular after menstruation.

The breast of young girls who have not yet begun to menstruate are seldom nodular at all. Pregnancy brings changes similar to those occurring before the menstrual period: breast become tender and swell with fluid; mammary gland and ducts enlarge; areolae may enlarge as well.

The breasts generally become about one-third larger. At menopause , mammary glands decrease in size, fibrous breast tissue loses strength and elasticity, and breasts become softer and sag with age. The skin of the breast, normally smooth, may become wrinkled as the supporting ligaments slacken.

At any age , our breasts will increase or decrease in size with changes in your weight; because they are largely composed of fatty tissue, their shape and texture may alter as well if your weight loss or gain is dramatic. Most normal changes, take place in both breast, simultaneously and roughly symmetrically that is, in the same relative position or are in each breast.

Such changes are less likely to indicate trouble than those occurring in one breast only. International differences in the incidence of breast cancer correlates with variations in diet, especially fat intake.

Those countries where the diet is high in fat have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Additional studies are being conducted. In the meantime, there is no question that a lower fat diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and possible colon cancer. The American Journal of Public Health, November 1, reported that getting a "lot" of fiber in your diet lowers your risk of breast cancer as well as other types of cancer. These findings were the result of a survey of women where it was found that women who frequently were constipated, often the result of low fiber diets , were more apt to get breast cancer as well as colon cancer.

The rational behind this is that when you are constipated, the toxins found in food have more time to be absorbed into your body, and the effects of these toxins are not limited to just the colon.

Studies conducted at Harvard Medical School and the National Cancer Institute have linked the consumption of alcoholic beverages with an increased risk of breast cancer. However, two studies, one conducted in by Dr. More recent studies however, have again linked alcoholic drinks with an increased risk of breast cancer.

We recommend that all women routinely perform breast self-exams as part of their overall breast cancer screening strategy. Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Step 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood. Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast.

Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast.

You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back.

When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage. Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower.

Learn more about the warning signs of breast cancer. Learn more about benign breast conditions. Learn more about breast cancer diagnosis. Learn more about finding a health care provider. Susan G. Calls to the Komen Breast Care Helpline are answered by a trained and caring staff member Monday through Friday from a.

The helpline provides free, professional support services to anyone who has questions or concerns about breast cancer, including people diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.