Breast Diseases

Summary

Most women experience breast changes at some time. Your age, hormone levels, and medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps, and discharges (fluids that are not breast milk).

If you have a breast lump, pain, discharge or skin irritation, see your health care provider. Minor and serious breast problems have similar symptoms. Although many women fear cancer, most breast problems are not cancer.

Some common breast changes are:

• Fibrocystic breast changes – lumpiness, thickening and swelling, often just before 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
• Blocked milk ducts
• Milk production when a woman is not breastfeeding

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Specifics

• Adenosis of the Breast American Cancer Society
• Benign Breast Conditions American Academy of Family Physicians
• Breast Calcifications Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Breast Cysts Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Breast Lumps Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Breast Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Breast Rash Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Fat Necrosis and Oil Cysts in the Breast American Cancer Society
• Fibrocystic Changes in the Breast American Cancer Society
• Galactorrhea American Academy of Family Physicians
• Hyperplasia of the Breast American Cancer Society
• Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Mammary Duct Ectasia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Mastitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Nipple Discharge Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Encyclopedia

• Aging changes in the breast Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast lump removal – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast ultrasound Medical Encyclopedia
• Subareolar abscess Medical Encyclopedia
• Supernumerary nipples Medical Encyclopedia
• Transillumination Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Find an Ob-Gyn American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute

Diagnosis and Tests

• Breast Biopsy National Library of Medicine
• Breast Cyst Aspiration American Academy of Family Physicians
• Breast Lump: Early Evaluation Is Essential Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Breast Pain in Women American Academy of Family Physicians
• Breast Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America
• Galactography (Ductography) Radiological Society of North America
• Needle Biopsy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Patient Handouts

• Breast biopsy – ultrasound Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast biopsy — stereotactic Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast infection Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast lump Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast self-exam Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast skin and nipple changes Medical Encyclopedia
• Fibroadenoma – breast Medical Encyclopedia
• Fibrocystic breast disease Medical Encyclopedia
• Gynecomastia Medical Encyclopedia
• Intraductal papilloma Medical Encyclopedia
• Nipple problems Medical Encyclopedia
• Premenstrual breast changes Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Breast Changes and Conditions National Cancer Institute
• Facts for Life: Benign Breast Conditions Susan G. Komen for the Cure
• Non-Cancerous Breast Conditions American Cancer Society

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Breast Diseases National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Gynecomastia National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mastitis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Mastodynia National Institutes of Health

Teenagers

• Gynecomastia (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Why Are My Breasts Different Sizes? Nemours Foundation
• Why Are My Breasts Sore? (For Teens) Nemours Foundation

Images

• Nipple Dermatitis VisualDX
• Supernumerary Nipple VisualDX

Journal Articles

• Breast diseases